For the next 4 weeks, our Urban County Council will be out on their Summer Break!

Council will vote on a comprehensive Short Term Rental (STR) regulation proposal. This proposal will set licensing and registration requirements for STR operators, and regulate how STRs can be operated in various zones in Lexington.

The Environmental Quality & Public Works (EQPW) Committee will meet to hear presentations on LFUCG’s energy reductions, updates to the street trees program, and a request from the Environmental Commission.

The Subcommittee on Council Rules and Procedures met to review the changes that they have made so far. This group has been meeting since February to update and modernize the rules followed by the Urban County Council and Council staff.

The Short Term Rental regulation put forward by Councilmembers James Brown and Liz Sheehan was passed out of Work Session and received first reading.

This week, the Planning Commission and the Urban County Council will both have an opportunity to review the results of the long-awaited Planning and Development Approval Process Study.

The Budget, Finance, & Economic Development (BFED) Committee will meet this week and hear a presentation about the City’s personnel budget and Ad Valorem taxes.

The Subcommittee on Council Rules and Procedures met last week to talk about the findings from their recent audit and recommendations for rule changes.

Lexington just adopted its largest budget in history at over $900 million, including all Restricted Funds.

Council voted to adopt the Imagine Lexington 2045 Comprehensive Plan, which made several changes to land use policy including expansion of the Urban Service Boundary and a stronger focus on racial equity, housing, and the environment.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on items related to zone changes and map amendment requests.

The Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is renewing its federal certification.

The Tree Board met to welcome several new members!

Members of the Planning Commission heard a presentation from on changes that have been made to the Comprehensive Plan’s Theme B Element, which covers sustainability and the environment.

Council voted for a final time to adopt the FY 23/24 City Budget.

Council voted for a final time to adopt the new Goals & Objectives of the Imagine Lexington 2045 Comprehensive Plan.

The Social Services & Public Safety Committee heard a presentation on recruitment, retention, and retirement activity from Public Safety Commissioner Ken Armstrong as well as the Director of Code Enforcement, Alex Olszowy.

The Public Arts Commission has a couple of exciting projects well underway!

At the final Committee of the Whole (COW) on the “Imagine Lexington 2045” Comprehensive Plan Goals & Objectives, Council voted to expand the Urban Service Boundary (USB), which restricts development of Fayette County’s rural land.

Council held their final Budget COW to hear proposed amendments to the Mayor’s Budget, as recommended by Budget Links and individual Councilmembers.