# Urban County Council Meeting - State of the Merged Government Address - January 21, 2014 > Auto-transcribed civic record · January 21, 2014 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/3213 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/3213?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2014-01-21 - **Last revised**: July 15, 2026 - **Length**: 4,249 words > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** Audio from the official Granicus video was auto-transcribed with OpenAI's open-source Whisper large-v3-turbo model, run locally by The Lexington Times. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude. Verbatim wording may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Meeting Overview The Urban County Council met on January 21, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency in the Patterson Ballroom, located at 401 W. High Street in Lexington, Kentucky. Mayor Jim Gray presided over the meeting, which included six agenda items and three public comments. The council approved the State of the Merged Government Address and heard five informational presentations covering major city initiatives and developments. No formal votes were taken during the meeting beyond the approval of the State of the Merged Government Address. The informational presentations addressed significant topics including recognition of the 1974 merged government leaders, redevelopment plans for Rupp Arena and Town Branch Commons, public safety and infrastructure investments, economic development and the Jobs Fund, and a call for a local option sales tax referendum. The meeting served primarily as an informational and commemorative session, allowing the council and public to hear updates on key municipal priorities and historical recognition of the government's merger four decades prior. ## Attendance **Present:** Linda Gorton, Steve Kay, Chuck Ellinger, Chris Ford, Shevawn Akers, Julian Beard, Bill Farmer, Kevin Stinnett, Jennifer Scutchfield, George Myers, Jennifer Mossotti, and Harry Clarke. **Absent:** Peggy Henson, Ed Lane, and Diane Lawless. **Late:** None reported. ## Public Comment Three speakers addressed the meeting, sharing perspectives on community values, quality of life, and youth support initiatives. **Michelle Davis** [timestamp: 0:09:36] spoke as a recent transplant from Fort Worth, Texas, highlighting her positive experience relocating to Lexington. She emphasized the city's ability to balance small-town charm with modern amenities, noting the accessibility of natural spaces and vibrant cultural offerings as key factors in her decision to move to the community. **Pastor John C. Lee Jr.** [timestamp: 0:31:04] of Greater Liberty Baptist Church was recognized alongside Bishop Thomas Wallace and Rev. Donald Gillett for their community fundraising efforts. The group raised $3,000 during Advent to support Partners for Youth, demonstrating community commitment to caring for local youth programs. **Megan Smith** [timestamp: 0:34:47], editor-in-chief of "Cake and Whiskey," shared a letter to Lexington that was published in the Huffington Post. She praised the city's culture of supporting ambitious initiatives, noting that Lexington has a reputation for never saying "no" to big dreams. Smith highlighted how the community fosters an environment that encourages dreamers, doers, and givers to pursue their aspirations. ## State of the Merged Government Address Mayor Jim Gray delivered the 2014 State of the Merged Government Address [timestamp: 0:00:00], marking the 40th anniversary of the city-county merger that took place in 1974. In his presentation, Mayor Gray highlighted progress across several key areas: - **Job Creation**: The Mayor emphasized achievements in expanding employment opportunities within the community. - **Financial Efficiency**: Progress was noted in improving the government's financial management and operational efficiency. - **Public Safety**: Improvements and investments in public safety initiatives were discussed. - **Community Investments**: The Mayor highlighted various investments being made to strengthen the community. The address focused on themes of Lexington's growth, innovation, and resilience as the merged government reflected on four decades of consolidation and looked toward future development. The address was approved by the body. ## Recognition of 1974 Merged Government Leaders [timestamp: 00:04:01] Mayor Jim Gray honored the original members of Lexington's merged government during this agenda item. The recognition acknowledged the foundational contributions of early leaders who shaped the city's governance structure. **Key Recognition** Mayor Gray specifically recognized Foster Pettit, who served as the first mayor following the 1974 merger. The mayor also acknowledged members of the first Urban County Council and Charter Commission, whose work established the framework for Lexington's consolidated government. **Outcome** This was an informational agenda item recognizing the historical significance of these early government leaders and their role in creating the merged government structure that continues to serve Lexington. ## Rupp Arena and Town Branch Commons Redevelopment [timestamp: 0:20:21] Mayor Jim Gray outlined the ongoing reinvention of Rupp Arena and the development of Town Branch Commons during this informational discussion. The project encompasses several components designed to transform the downtown area: - **Rupp Arena Reinvention**: The mayor discussed plans for the ongoing modernization and reimagining of Rupp Arena - **Town Branch Commons Development**: A new mixed-use development featuring public spaces and improved downtown connectivity - **Cox Street Park**: A new park planned for the Cox Street area - **Design Unveiling**: The mayor indicated that a new design for the project would be unveiled in the coming days The overarching goal of the project is to create an arts and entertainment district while improving connectivity throughout downtown Lexington. The discussion focused on how these developments would work together to revitalize the downtown core and enhance the public realm. This was presented as an informational item with no formal action or decision required at this meeting. ## Public Safety and Infrastructure Investments Mayor Jim Gray reported on public safety improvements and infrastructure investments during this agenda item [timestamp: 0:23:45]. **Public Safety Achievements** The mayor highlighted significant progress in public safety operations, reporting a 7.8% reduction in crime during 2013. He noted that the city achieved zero fire-related deaths in the same period. The mayor also discussed improvements in public safety staffing and equipment upgrades that contributed to these positive outcomes. **Infrastructure Investments** Mayor Gray outlined the city's infrastructure investment priorities, which included: - Paving projects - Parks improvements - Construction of a new Senior Citizens Center **Outcome** This agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal debate or action items recorded. The discussion served to update the public and council on the city's progress in public safety and infrastructure development during 2013. ## Economic Development and the Jobs Fund [timestamp: 07:24] Mayor Jim Gray presented an overview of Lexington's economic development efforts and the city's Jobs Fund initiative. **Key Points Presented:** Mayor Gray highlighted several positive economic indicators for the city: - Lexington has 149,249 employed residents - The city maintains a 6.1% unemployment rate - The city has established a $1 million Jobs Fund **Economic Development Strategy:** According to Mayor Gray, Lexington's economic success is built on three primary factors: - The city's quality of life - An educated workforce - The Jobs Fund, which supports business attraction and growth Mayor Gray noted that these assets have been effective in attracting high-tech startups and businesses to the region. **Outcome:** This agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal debate or action items recorded. The discussion served to inform the public and meeting attendees about the city's current economic position and the resources being deployed to support continued job growth and business development. ## Call for Local Option Sales Tax Referendum [timestamp: 32:06] Mayor Jim Gray presented a proposal for a local option voter referendum that would authorize a 1% sales tax dedicated to capital projects. According to the proposal, this tax would generate an estimated $34 million annually for infrastructure and community improvements. The mayor urged members of the legislative delegation to support the referendum initiative. He emphasized that the additional revenue would enable the funding of major infrastructure and community projects that are currently unaffordable under existing budget constraints. This item was presented as informational, with no formal action taken during the meeting. --- ## Full transcript Thank you so much, Gail. It is now time for our featured speaker who needs no introduction. So please join me in welcoming our mayor, the Honorable Jim Gray, as he delivers the 2014 State of the City Address. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Jay. And congratulations again to Gail and to Richard. Those awards really, really represent the innovation and the inventiveness, the spirit, just like the award described for Gail, and the caring and giving community that Lexington is. So good afternoon to everyone. Thanks to all of you for being here today. And members of the election forum, Kim Sweezy, the irrepressible Kim Sweezy, thank you, Kim. Friends and citizens, thank you all. And first things first, thanks to our council members who have worked together with us in a productive collaboration. And they are right here up front, Vice Mayor Linda Gorton, at-large council members Steve Kay and Chuck Ellinger, district council members Chris Ford, Siobhan Akers, Diane Lawless, Julian Beard, Bill Farmer, Kevin Stennett, Jennifer Scutchfield, George Myers, Jennifer Massati, Harry Clark, Peggy Henson, and Ed Lane. Let's have them stand, please, and let's give them a hearty round of applause. Thank you all. I especially want to recognize and thank Vice Mayor Linda Gordon today, who has worked with us every step of the way. Our Vice Mayor has announced that she will be stepping down from public office at the end of the year, her 16th year on the council. But we all know that she will always be stepping up for our city. Let's give Linda Gordon a well-deserved hand of applause. Thank you, Linda. Now, Vice Mayor Gordon has been our longest-serving council member since the city-county merger. In fact, the merger of our city and county governments is what I'd like to begin with today. 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of what was at the time and even is today an innovative and creative and inventive step, city-county merger. It was 1974. Times were then turbulent in our country, double-digit inflation, the resignation of a president, a national speed limit set at 55. And in Kentucky, 1974 brought more tornadoes on one day than history ever recorded. And a merged government opened its doors in Lexington. Forty years later, there's little doubt. Merger has been worthy and efficient, shaping the community we are today. Like many of you here today, we are so glad many of those 1974 council members have stayed at home right here in Lexington. They love our city, and they are a great community resource, still engaged and still working to make Lexington better. Here with us today are Foster Pettit, the first mayor of our merged government, and several members of the first urban county council. Former Mayor Pam Miller Former Mayor Pam Miller Bill McCann Joe Jasper Don Blevins Sr. And his wife Kay Bill Hoskins His wife Joan And Paul Rose Here with his wife Norma Let's You all stand And let's give everybody A big hand of applause Thank you all Thanks, Pam. And two with us today are members of the original Charter Commission, former Councilmember David Stevens, Bill McCann, again, Phil Points, and Charlene Summers. Will you all please stand? These are the members of the Charter Commission. Thank you all. Bill, thanks. Charlene? This commission, for those of you who may not know, this commission wrote the charter that voters then approved to merge the governments. We are here today to talk about the state of our city. And I am proud to report that the state of our city is strong and it is getting even stronger. In the next 20 minutes, I want to share how we're stronger and why we're stronger because we have focused on our city's top goals. And they are right behind me on these banners. Create jobs. Run government efficiently. Build a great American city. Now, I dial back to these goals routinely. They are the goals we set together as a community in 2010. It's important to report back on the progress we've made and the challenges still before us, all in the spirit of continuous improvement. Now, I recognize that on any big goal or any big project or any thorny problem that we need to solve for our city, there are those who will say with great conviction, you are going too fast. And there are those who will say, you are going too slow. And there are those who will say, you should not be chasing that ball at all. So as we debate, as any healthy city leadership should, we can remember that aspirational thinking, yes, even dreaming, can lead to transformational results for our city. And also that basic blocking and tackling, good problem solving, can lead to problems that have been long accepted as too tough to address actually becoming problems that we address with success. So why is creating jobs our number one priority? Well, outside of family and health, having a good job is perhaps the most important thing in life. Everyone in the world wants a good job today. Now, we have made solid progress since the Great Recession drove our local unemployment rate up to 8.7 percent in 2009. And today in Lexington, 149,249 people are employed. That is more than have ever been employed here since the government started keeping records in 1990. In fact, our job growth rate from July 2012 to July 2013 was the ninth highest in the country. Since January 2011, jobs in Lexington have increased by almost 9,000. That's a 6 percent increase in our labor force in less than three years. By contrast, the state's labor force increased by 1 percent. As of last November, Lexington had a 6.1 percent unemployment rate, which was significantly lower than the state rate of 8.4 percent and the national rate of 7.3. So what is it that's contributing to our job growth? Well let's start with quality of life. So dial back with me 30, 40, 50 years ago. That's when people moved to where the jobs were. Think IBM, train, Square D, even Toyota. Now that model still works to some extent. I've been in that business of recruiting businesses. But today, more jobs are moving to where the people are, where the talent is, where there There is a premium on quality of life and quality of place. So our focus has been on creating the environment, the quality of life and place that grows and attracts good jobs and talented people. Listen with me for the point of view of someone who has just moved here from Fort Worth, Texas, Michelle Davis, who joins us today. Michelle's letter to the editor of the Herald-Leader was published in its January 12th edition. And Michelle writes, Less than six months ago, I moved to Lexington from a Texas metropolis with my husband to begin a new job as a medical animator. While the job itself was the major draw, the city promised to be progressive, accessible, and engaging. I love that it balances a small-town feel and proximity to nature with a large and modern city's energy. Beyond the horses, bourbon, and basketball, there's easy access to outdoor exploration, unique restaurants, a new aquaponics facility, the Kentucky Theater, community gardens, public art projects, fitness gyms, and farmers' markets. What else attracts and keeps good companies, good jobs, and talented people in Lexington? Our highly educated workforce. Just last month, Lexington was named again by U.S. News & World Report as one of the ten smartest cities in the country. And Lexington has a higher median income and lower cost of living than the national averages. Working with our partners at Commerce Lexington and the University of Kentucky, our economic development efforts target companies with a lot of potential. Lexington is ranked 10th nationally for the number of high-tech startups. And companies like Gnome's Technologies, which chose Lexington for its first state-of-the-art battery research location, is an example. Now, of course, this is a trend we want to encourage. So we have created the Jobs Fund, which is a unique local program to give us competitive advantage with fast-growing businesses. The Jobs Fund is a $1 million commitment designed to make smart investments that directly boost job growth. We also focus our efforts on our economic strengths. including our universities, our health care, and our agricultural industries, especially the equine industry, which serve regional, national, and even international clients. This past November, Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher and I released our BEAM plan, the Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement. And the goal? Creating jobs by leveraging Central Kentucky's strengths in advanced manufacturing. We are encouraging more engineers, more training centers, more earn-and-learn programs to help prepare our workforce for the jobs that already exist and those to come. and also to leverage mid-skilled talents. It's not all just about high-tech jobs. And we are encouraging through BEAM greater exports to more countries, business beyond our city limits. In other words, thinking and acting globally. With these intentional and deliberate efforts, our economy is outperforming similar-sized cities. And we should be, because Lexington is a university city, a place where innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent are welcomed with open arms. Our next goal, running government efficiently. It takes imagination, innovation, determination, backbone. And thankfully, our city and our city council have plenty of backbone. Council members know that in order to compete, to make the investments needed for our community and our quality of life, that an efficient government is essential and required, not optional, not elective. Let's look at this slide. By the way, I was told to share with you all that the blue horse is not changing to a yellowish-green on this image over here. We've had a few technical problems, but this slide shows the progress that we've made, beginning in 2012, by making the tough decisions to reform employee health insurance and put our pension on a sustainable track. The red line shows where we were headed. Let's call it the Detroit path. And the blue line shows where we are now, securely on a path to financial strength. In 2012, just from these reforms in one year alone, we saved $14.2 million. In 2013, $47.6 million was saved. Now that is $61.8 million of your tax dollars saved. And these savings compound year over year. Now, $61.8 million in savings is a very big number, but that does not mean we have that money to spend. We just don't have to bond pension payments anymore or look to one-time fixes for health insurance. We have stabilized, we have righted the financial ship. Every city in the country is wrestling with employee health insurance and pension costs. Only a few have found pathways and solutions. In the future, we will see healthy cities, and we will see sick cities that cannot find their way out of mountains of accumulated debt. Where do you want to locate your business? Where do you want to raise your family? Lexington is today a beacon for other cities, an example of how to build financial health and strength. I want to again salute the folks who supported these efforts with their resources and with their time or both. It would not have happened without them. They include Commerce Lexington, the Lexington Industrial Foundation, and members of the Police and Fire Pension Task Force led by Tim Kelly and Gene Vance. And from Public Safety, Chris Bartley, Mike Sweeney, Rob Sarantonio, Drew Short, Larry Kennard, Chief Ronnie Baston, and Chief Keith Jackson. Thank you all. We have kept on finding new ways to save. By looking under every rock, by working with council, by carefully working our way through the budgets and examining other ways to save, we found them. Examples. Savings of over $3 million at our employee health center and $1.2 million at our employee pharmacy since 2012. Savings of $1.6 million through energy saving initiatives since 2011. Savings of $305,000 a year at the jail through new contracts for food and laundry service. Savings of $25 million on our Emergency Operations Center, a one-time capital cost. How do we do that? By reusing an existing building and winning several federal grants. Savings, too, of $8 million so far in the overall cost of cleaning up our sewers sewers because of an emphasis on project management and streamlined procurement. Now pushing back on spending too much is always required. And that's why I meet regularly with a willing acting commissioner, Charlie Martin, who's here today with us, and project manager, Vernon Azevedo. I want to take a minute to salute Emma Tibbs, who is here representing the Fayette County Neighborhood Council and all of our city's neighborhood associations. As a leader of the Neighborhood Council since 1994, Emma and many other citizens pushed back, fought for the city to fix its sewers and address flooding. Please share with me our thanks to Emma and the Neighborhood Council. So finding savings and efficiencies and strong financial management are now routine ways of life at City Hall, embedded into the city's DNA. By doing this, we have reclaimed our city's financial strength. Finding efficiencies also allows us to save money. Finding efficiency allows us to save money and also to make investments. To successfully compete, Lexington, like any successful business, must build its brand, its quality of life, by leveraging its assets and making investments. All successful businesses recognize there are times when you have to save money to make money, you have to reduce cut costs. And successful businesses recognize there are times when we have to spend money to make money by investing in the brand. Building a great American city means investing in ourselves, in our brand. These investments are designed to pay dividends and quality of life, investments in community, neighborhoods, in new jobs, in outstanding basic services, in technology, and in the future. Three years ago, a group of citizens began examining Rupp Arena and the surrounding blocks. Three leaders of this task force are with us here today, Chairman Brent Rice, Will James, and Pam Miller. Now, Rupp has been aging a little long in the tooth, and its competitiveness challenged. The question for the task force then was, build a new arena or renovate. These citizens recommended not just renovating Rupp, but reinventing it at a lower cost than new and creating a better-than-new state-of-the-art experience. And they recommended that the arena become a part of rather than remain a part from our downtown by creating an arts and entertainment district around a freed rub. We've brought in the nation's best architects and held public meetings, giving citizens the opportunity to share their ideas with the design team. And we've just completed a citizen survey asking folks what changes they want to see inside of ROT. There were 8,335 participants in just two weeks. Responses from all corners of Kentucky and as far away as Phoenix and Miami. Generally, fans are interested in technology improvements and sharebacks, not unexpectedly, in the upper arena. But here are a couple of the thousands of comments we received. Get rid of Big Bertha for a modern scoreboard, said one fan. More beverage and food options, said another. Now, in and around the Rupp District, the plans call for public outdoor spaces along the path of the town branch as it winds its way through downtown with a park in what is now the Cox Street parking lot. When we began the Rupp Project three years ago, I confessed, this is a long process. In fact, I said it's a 10-step process with lots of moving parts. In three years, we have made our way carefully through several of those steps, mindful of the importance of keeping the public informed. All along the way, we have worked closely with the University of Kentucky to be sure their needs are met through this project. And I want to especially thank Dr. Eli Capilouto and Eric Mundy, who are here with us today. Thank you all so much. Now we are about to take a couple of big steps. In the next few days, we will unveil a new design for Rupp Arena and the Convention Center and elements of the Town Branch Commons, all aspirational plans, yes, admittedly, for our city. Now, of course, Rupp Arena and Town Branch are important investments in our city's future, but so are investments in basic services. Public safety, a strong and effective police, fire and corrections divisions. They are essential to our quality of life. Public safety commands 55.2% of our budget. And the Great Recession affected even those divisions, unavoidable, unpreventable. But unlike many cities, there were no layoffs in police, fire, or corrections in Lexington. And as the economy began to recover, and largely because of our ability to save dollars elsewhere, we were able to make new investments in public safety. Each of our principal public safety divisions, police, fire, and corrections, is now very close to having all current staffing positions filled, almost 100% for police, almost the same for fire, and 98% for corrections. While boots on the street is an important part of this story, it is not the only part. We have also invested in equipment. Importantly, new communications equipment, radios that cover our county, border to border, and allow for seamless communication among police officers and firefighters. And we've invested in new patrol cars and fire vehicles. Bottom line, in 2013, our public safety employees continued their extraordinary work. Our police officers are preventing crime, which was down 7.8 percent compared to 2012, and they are solving crimes and getting criminals off the streets. Our firefighters are preventing and fighting fires. No fire-related deaths in Lexington in 2013, and they are also making thousands of EMS runs at impressive response rates. There is a new ambulance and 27 new paramedics on the streets. And new leadership has brought improvements at our jail. Now, we all watch the news. We all know there is crime in our city. We don't live in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. Yes, this is a city with all its blessings, but its burdens and challenges as well. But the numbers tell the real story. Lexington is one of the safest cities of its size anywhere in the country. I'll repeat that. One of the safest cities of its size anywhere in the country. So I want to thank all of our public safety employees. Now, in other areas, we have increased investments in paving, for example, and in parks, which are also both important basic services adding to quality of life and the compelling attraction of a city like Lexington. We are working with the Fayette County Public Schools as they invest in a new high school. We have also invested in the arts. In Lexington, the arts have in many ways become a basic service. we recognize their importance to quality of life, our culture, and therefore to our economy, and we invest in them as a community. Lexington has more arts establishments per capita than Chicago, Philadelphia, or even San Francisco. Many, for example, are excited about the new Lincoln mural on Vine Street, the Prohibition Festival, the Tattoo Project, Richard's Chamber Music Festival, just another example of the many entrepreneurial initiatives and the enthusiasm for the arts in Lexington. We are also investing in technology to find new efficiencies and ways to improve basic services. Everything from a renovated state-of-the-art parking garage now open on Main Street to code enforcement where we're examining data in a new way to zero in on our community's most distressed buildings, a way to end demolition by neglect. We will invest in our employees. Our compensation system for employees outside of collective bargaining agreements is not working, and we are working on a solution that is fair and equitable. We're also investing in our citizens and in meeting their needs. We will soon hire the city's first leader for our newly created Office of Homelessness. This office will help improve collaboration among city divisions, service providers, and community partners in our work to address homelessness. Since 2012, when federal and state funding was being cut, we have increased funding for social service agencies in Lexington by 20%. These are programs that help the neediest among us. And we're building a new senior citizen center. In fact, it will be located on city property, saving money. And we're adding a new focus on healthy outdoor programs for today's active seniors. Our plans currently call for ribbon cutting in 2015. Construction, too, will begin this summer on the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden. which will also be the eastern trailhead for the Legacy Trail, connecting the east end to the horse park, a wonderful new recreational opportunity in our city. Lexington is a caring and giving community. Our citizens take care of each other. There were countless examples of people checking in on their neighbors during this recent cold snap just two weeks ago. A caring and giving community also takes care of its children. through Partners for Youth and the I Do programs. Community volunteers design programs for young people. Many of those programs are funded by the community. Laura Hatfield is the Executive Director for Partners for Youth. She's here with us today, and she brought along two members of the Mayor's Youth Council. So welcome to Henry Clay Jr., Russ Boggess, and Dunbar Jr., Meghna Kudramoti. Where are you guys? And today I especially want to salute three clergymen. Pastor John C. Lee Jr. with Greater Liberty Baptist Church. Bishop Thomas Wallace with New Birth Church of Christ, and Reverend Donald Gillette from East 2nd Street Christian. During Advent, these ministers raised $3,000 from their congregations for our Partners for Youth program. Let's thank them with a big round of applause. I've been talking about our investments in basic services and their importance to our quality of life. But over the past few years, we've really only been able to address critical needs, critical needs. We've only been able to address those critical needs because of limited resources. Lexington has community projects, like major transportation projects, projects and a world-class park system that are not even being considered today because the funds just aren't available. These types of projects would distinguish Lexington and make us even more competitive. So how do we make these investments? We need new options. One of those options is a local option voter referendum that would allow voters to support or oppose up to a 1% local sales tax for specific capital projects for a limited amount of time. In Fayette County, a 1% sales tax would generate an estimated $34 million a year. Now, in my view, allowing our citizens the very basic right to vote is something we should support. Let's encourage our legislative delegation to get behind this important effort this session. As we make important investments in the future of our community, we should always remember we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us all the way back to 1775, 239 years ago, when Lexington was settled around the town branch. I've always believed, and still do, that good business principles and practices can be translated into government, and we're doing just that. We are working efficiently. But efficiency, in government especially, is a little different than in the private sector. It is measured over the long arc of history. Our city has grown. Opportunities increased. Sure, there are problems, and we must relentlessly chase them down. But over the long arc of time and history, our city has grown, prospered, and improved. In 1930, Louisville's population was 350,000, and Lexington was 35,000. Today, Louisville's population is a little over 700,000. Lexington is almost 310,000. Louisville has doubled in size, while Lexington has increased by almost tenfold. A measure of growth and change and challenge. But the truest measure of any city, of our city especially, always comes from the citizens, our citizens themselves. And some of you may have already read a few months ago Megan Smith's letter to Lexington. It appeared last September in the Huffington Post section called Love Letters to Your City. Megan's letter was read by thousands of people from across the country, and it got great reviews. Now, Megan, who is editor-in-chief of Cake and Whiskey, it's a lifestyle blog, lives here, has joined us today, and I want to close with her words. Do you know what I love most about you, Lexington? I love that you never say no to big dreams. I've been with other cities, ones that promise to fulfill with networking opportunities. But in the end, they were too busy, too distracted. But you, Lexington, you have created a platform for the pursuit of possibility and then go beyond and above, rallying everyone around in support. You have this amazing way, Lexington, of encouraging dreamers to dream bigger, doers to do more, and givers to continue giving. So to all of you in this room today and beyond, as Megan might say, thank you for dreaming big, for doing more, and for continuing to give. Thank you all very much. Thank you, Mayor, and thank you for your insights about how to make our great community even.