# Urban County Council - May 11, 2023 > Auto-transcribed civic record · May 11, 2023 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/5824 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/5824?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2023-05-11 - **Last revised**: May 11, 2023 - **Length**: 17,997 words - **Speakers**: Mayor > ⚠️ **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 convened on May 11, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting focused primarily on recognitions and ceremonial items, with two informational agenda items presented: a recognition of the Dunbar Swim and Dive team and a recognition of Dawn Duncan Walters. The council conducted two official votes during the session and heard from three members of the public during the public comment period. Overall, this was a lighter meeting agenda centered on community recognition rather than substantive policy matters. ## Attendance The following members were present at the May 11, 2023 meeting: **Present:** • Fogle • Gray • LeGris • Lynch • Monarrez • Reynolds • Sevigny • Sheehan • Worley • Wu • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Elliott Baxter **Absent:** • Plomin No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 14 members were in attendance, with one absence recorded. ## Votes and Decisions The council conducted two roll call votes during the May 11, 2023 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously. **Ordinance 0472-23** [timestamp: 02:00] Councilmember Ellinger motioned to approve Ordinance 0472-23, which amends budgets for municipal expenditures under FY 2023 Schedule No. 35. The motion was seconded by Elliott Baxter. The ordinance passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor: Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Elliott Baxter. **Ordinance 0525-23** [timestamp: 03:00] Councilmember Fogle motioned to approve Ordinance 0525-23, the C.R.O.W.N. Act to prohibit discrimination based on natural hair texture and style. The motion was seconded by Gray. The ordinance passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor: Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Elliott Baxter. Both ordinances received full council support with no opposition or abstentions recorded. All 14 council members present participated in both votes. ## Budget and Financial Actions The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts requiring council approval. **Storm Drainage Infrastructure** The council considered Resolution 0422-23 authorizing a contract with Lagco, Inc. for the Joyland Area Storm Drainage Project in the amount of $1,289,489. This major infrastructure investment represents the largest financial commitment discussed during the meeting. **Police Facility Solar Installation** Resolution 0419-23 proposed awarding a contract to Solar Energy Solutions, LLC for $80,443.24 to install a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system at the Police West Training Center. This renewable energy project would provide sustainable power generation for the police training facility. The two contracts combined represent approximately $1.37 million in municipal expenditures, with the storm drainage project accounting for the majority of the financial commitment. Both items required formal resolution approval to proceed with the contracted work. ## Public Comment Three residents addressed the council during the public comment period, focusing primarily on budget concerns and public safety issues. **Dottie Bean** [timestamp: 01:00] spoke regarding the Mayor's Proposed Budget, expressing concerns about the allocation of funds. Bean emphasized that government should focus on its legal obligations, particularly public safety and infrastructure, rather than other expenditures. **Jess Bowman** [timestamp: 01:10] addressed the FLOCK Camera Program, criticizing the proposed expansion of the surveillance system. Bowman raised concerns about over-policing in marginalized communities, suggesting the camera program could disproportionately impact certain populations. **Don Pratt** [timestamp: 01:20] discussed both budget issues and traffic management concerns. Pratt criticized what he characterized as "feel-good projects" that fail to address core public safety issues, specifically mentioning drug and gun violence. He also called for better traffic management solutions in the community. The public comments reflected broader themes around budget priorities, with speakers generally advocating for government focus on fundamental services like public safety and infrastructure while questioning spending on programs they viewed as less essential or potentially problematic. ## Appointments The meeting included two personnel appointments to advisory boards and community organizations. **Alarm Advisory Board** • Michele Hill was reappointed to the Alarm Advisory Board **Bluegrass Crime Stoppers** • Cathy Taylor was appointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers These appointments represent the city's ongoing commitment to maintaining citizen involvement in municipal advisory roles and community safety initiatives. The Alarm Advisory Board provides oversight and guidance on alarm system regulations and policies, while Bluegrass Crime Stoppers works to encourage community participation in crime prevention and reporting. ## Contested Items The meeting featured one significant procedural dispute regarding the timing of public comments during the legislative process. **Public Comment Timing** [timestamp: 00:30] A debate arose over whether to allow public comments before the second reading of ordinances, with specific focus on the C.R.O.W.N. Act. The disagreement centered on procedural questions about when members of the public should be permitted to address the governing body during the ordinance review process. The nature of this dispute was procedural rather than substantive, focusing on meeting protocols and public participation procedures. The specific positions taken by individual members and the final resolution of this timing question were not detailed in the available materials. This procedural dispute highlights ongoing questions about balancing efficient meeting management with opportunities for public input during the legislative process. ## Recognition of Dunbar Swim and Dive [timestamp: 02:30] The council recognized the outstanding achievements of the Dunbar Swim and Dive team during agenda item 0489-23. Mayor Gorton presented the recognition, officially declaring May 11, 2023, as Dunbar Swim and Dive Day in honor of the team's accomplishments. Coach Pleasants addressed the council during the presentation, speaking about the team's performance and dedication throughout the season. The recognition highlighted the swimmers' and divers' achievements in competition and their representation of the community. This was an informational presentation with no debate or concerns raised by council members. The item served as a ceremonial recognition to celebrate the athletic achievements of local student-athletes and acknowledge their contributions to the community's reputation in competitive swimming and diving. The proclamation of Dunbar Swim and Dive Day represents the council's commitment to recognizing excellence in youth athletics and supporting local teams that bring positive attention to the area through their competitive success. ## Recognition of Dawn Duncan Walters [timestamp: 02:45] The council formally recognized Dawn Duncan Walters for her significant contributions to the community during agenda item 0490-23. Mayor Gorton presented the recognition, officially declaring May 11, 2023, as Dawn Duncan Walters Day. The presentation highlighted Walters' community service and impact on local initiatives. Mayor Gorton spoke about her dedication and the positive influence she has had on various community programs and organizations. Dawn Duncan Walters was present to receive the recognition and addressed the council during the presentation. The recognition served as an informational item, celebrating her civic contributions and community involvement. This ceremonial recognition demonstrates the council's commitment to acknowledging residents who have made meaningful contributions to improving the community through their volunteer work and civic engagement. --- ## Decisions - **Ordinance 0472-23** — passed (14-0): Amending budgets for municipal expenditures, FY 2023 Schedule No. 35 - **Ordinance 0525-23** — passed (14-0): C.R.O.W.N. Act to prohibit discrimination based on natural hair texture and style --- ## Full transcript Music Thank you. Good evening, everyone. It's 6 o'clock, so we'll go ahead and get started with our meeting. This is the May 11th Council meeting of 2023, and the first item on our agenda is a roll call, please. Council Member Fogle. Council member Gray. Present. Council member Legree. Here. Council member Lynch. Present. Council member Minares. Here. Council member Plowman. Council member Reynolds. Here. Council member Sevigny. Here. Council member Sheehan. Here. Council member Worley. Yes, ma'am. Vice Mayor Wu. Here. Council member Fred Brown. Here. Council member James Brown. Here. Council member Ellinger. Councilmember Ellinger. Yes, ma'am. And Councilmember Elliott Baxter. Thank you. Thank you. We have a quorum. And at this time, I would like to welcome to the podium, Sri Vijaya Narasimha Bhattar. And he will offer us an invocation, and he's from the Baratiyah Temple and Cultural Center. Welcome. Om Shri Guru Bhjyana Mahari Om Bhadrangarne Vishranyama Devah, Bhadrambashemakshapirya Jatrah, Stire Renge Stoshtuvagam Sastanubih, Vishema Devahitam Yidayuhu, Swasthinayandru Vriddashava, Swasthinapusha Vishwaveda, Svastinastarksho Arishtanemi Svastinobrhaspaterdhadhatu Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om Namaste Ganapataye Tvameva Pratyaksham Tattvamasi Tvameva Kevalam Kartasi Tvameva Kevalam Dharasi Vamayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakayam Vakay Avapashchata Aathem, Avapurastha Aathem, Avottara Aathem, Avadakshinata Aathem, Avachordhvata Aathem, Avadharata Aathem, Sarvatomam Pahipahisamantata Tvam Vangmayas Tvam Chinmayaha Tvam Anandamayas Tvam Brahma mayaha Tvam Satchidhananda Dvitiyosi Tvam Pratyaksham Brahmaasi Tvam Jnanamayo Vignanamayosi Sarvam Jagadidam Tvattwo Jayate Sarvam Jagadidam Tvattastishtati Sarvam Jagadidam Tvayalaya Meshati Sarvam Jagadidam Twayapratthetim Tvam Bhomiraponalo Nilo Nabaha Tvam Chathwariva Akpadani Tvam Gunatrayatita Tvam Dehatrayatita Tvam Kalatrayatita Tvam Mooladhare Sthitosanityam Tvam Shaktitrayatmaga Tvam Yogino Dhyayantinityam Thank you. Gakarappoorvaropam, Akaro Madhyamaropam, Anaswarascha Antyaropam, Binduruttararopam, Nadasandhanam, Sakamhita Sandihim, Saishaganeshavidyaam, Ganagarushihim, Nichargayatrichandaham, Oṁ Śrī Śakti Ghanapater Devata, Oṁ Ganga Napadaya Namaha, Yekadantāya Vidmahe Vakradundāya Dheemahe, Tannodhantipprachodaya Atam, Yekadantam Chadarhastham Pāśamankushadharinam, Radancha Parada'm Hashtair Vibranam Mooshagadvajam Rakta'm Lambodaram Shurpa Karanakam Rakta Vahasasam Rakta Gandhānulipthangam Rakta Pushpaisapujidam Bhaktanakam Binam Devam Jagatkaranam Achutam Avir Bhutancha Shushthadhyo Prakurdeev Purushatparam Yevam Dhyayatiyo Nithyam Sayogi Yogi Nambara Om Namo Vrathavadaye Namo Ganapadaye Namo Pravathavadaye Namaste Astulambodharaya Ekadandhaya Vignavinashane Shiva Suthaya Shri Vardavurthaye Namonamaha Om Sahanavavatu Sahanubhunaktu Sahaviryamkaravavahai God bless you. Thank you so much. Council member Fogle. Thank you, Mayor. So I move to suspend the rules to allow council to receive public comment. Due to most of our folks were working in the afternoon when we were at work session. And so the public comment prior to ordinance, second reading, so moved. Is there a second? Second. All right, is there any discussion? So that would be to move public comment to right before second reading of ordinances. Yes, ma'am. Before second reading of ordinances. Before second reading of ordinances. All right, any other questions? Yes, it's on there. Council member Worley. Thank you, mayor. I would ask, is there a particular ordinance that is, or a particular resolution that we're seeking more public comment because it has been this particular council's practice not to suspend the rules and to move forward with business as the agenda is set. As we've talked about quite a bit that we're looking at our public comment rules, but we have seen issues recently in particularly the past council that we did not get through the business because of public comment. jumping in the agenda. Certainly want to hear what people have to say, but this has been our practice not to move. So, Council Member, is there a particular- It would have been the first reading, and it's over the Crown Act that folks were not allowed to express some of their comments. Okay, thank you. Which is really important. I want to hear everybody's comments. I appreciate it, but because it's been our practice not to spend the rules, I won't be supporting the motion. though certainly not against the public comment. Thank you. Other comments? Council Member Ellinger. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to know exactly, so we would still hear the public hearing on the Mayor's proposed budget and hear the presentations, then it would fall after that before the ordinance of second reading. Is that correct? That's what I understand. Okay, thank you. Other questions? Council Member Baxter. Thank you, Mayor. And just to clarify, are we receiving all public comment or only public comment as it pertains to that specific ordinance? So I'm asking for that particular ordinance. Okay. The issue is people don't sign up by ordinance or resolution. So we don't really know how many. That's why I was trying to. to speak to which resolution or ordinance? We have 14 signed up for public comment. That's apart from the public hearing. Okay, all right, thank you, Mayor. Anything else? All right, all those in favor of suspending the rules and placing public comment before second reading of ordinances, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? No. Okay, let's take a hand vote, please. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Anyone opposed? Okay, we have three no votes, so that passes. So we'll move public comment up to that position. Okay. Vice Mayor Wu, did you want to speak? Yeah, I know we just passed that motion, but I do have a question. Council Member Fogel, your intention was for the public commenters who are speaking on the Crown Act to speak? Yes. In that portion? Okay, so I would like to figure out a way we can look through our public comment list and see who is speaking on that item and who is not so that we know where to place them in our agenda. Council Member Reynolds. What we just passed was that all public comment was going to be at that time. That's what we just passed. That is correct. If that's the Chair's rule. I mean, I believe that's what the motion was. The sentiment may not have been that through the conversation. I think the council member had said that she intended for the Crown Act for people to be able to speak. Is that right? That's not what we're saying. That's not what we're saying. In a clarifying comment, she clarified her motion. So that's what the council member's wishes to be recognized, that she did clarify in her motion that she wanted people to be able to speak about the Crown Act particularly. So did everybody then understand you were voting only on the Crown Act comments or all public comment? I think it was confusing. I think the intent, we understand the intent. Not your fault. So do you want to, I think that would be the proper thing. And we'll sort through how to figure that out. Why don't you? Let's try this again. So I move that we move the public comment for the Crown Act for folks who were not able to speak about the Crown Act due to work and other things that they couldn't get here in the afternoon. And for that to be read after. Am I doing all right? Before. Before. Second reading of ordinance. Before the second reading. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. That's right. After the first reading. Yes, ma'am. You got it. And that would include everybody else. So moved. Yes. Am I right? You got it. Okay. It's hard being a freshman. Yeah. Is there a second? Second. All right. And I believe since you said only those who want to discuss the crown act, everybody else will wait to normal public comment. Yes, ma'am. Okay, thank you. Any questions? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? Ha ha. Thank you. That passes. All right. Next on our agenda is minutes of the previous meetings. That's April 18th. Moved to approve. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions about the budget address or the zone change? That's what those are. All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Now, at this point, in compliance with the urban county government charter, we are providing an opportunity for residents to make comments about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. A summary of the mayor's proposed budget, including the use of state municipal aid and mineral severance funds, has been published in the Lexington Herald Leader. And copies of the budget are available on the city's website, lexingtonky.gov, the Urban County Council Clerk's Office, the County Clerk's Office, and the Lexington Public Library's Central Branch. So I now declare this public hearing is in session. And we do have a handful of folks who'd like to speak to the budget. So many of you are familiar with our rules as I call your name. Will you please approach the podium and state your name and your council district for the record? And you'll have three minutes. First is Dottie Bean. Welcome. Council members, we believe this process is moving a bit too fast, but we do appreciate the opportunity to comment early on it. We see little being spent on the true work that government is supposed to be doing under the law and too much picking up the slack from community groups that have in the past been asked to raise at least matching funds and sometimes all the money that will be spent. We see no need for government to spend much on arts programs to address or ineffective programs to address youth boredom and loss of jobs or lack of jobs, social concerns that should be addressed better by churches, schools, charities, and other private entities. We know this is, there is lots of money in this community for things such as that, restoring theaters, funding artists, putting on festivals, beautifying neighborhoods, buying vehicles for agencies that ask, and the many other unnecessary items in the budget that Mayor Gorton has presented. We caution you that the national scene is very unsettled, and this city and others should not make plans to spend any money they don't already have and use what you do have to fund your legal obligations to protect our public safety, provide affordable and decent housing and transportation for job-related travels, and certainly the equipment and personnel needed to provide sanitation service throughout the city. Management salaries have become too large, and management is too top-heavy in this government, and that all needs to be trimmed. The council needs time to submit its own budget alternative. We think the combined knowledge of our district council members, even the ones who are new, can draft a much fairer and wiser budget than this one. Please take the time to do that and do it in public. Regardless of any lack of knowledge you may have about government, you do know your community and you do know your constituents. And we believe that you can build a better budget than this one. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Jess Bowman. Welcome. You're good. Jess Bowman, District 9. Where we spend our money shows where our priorities lie. This is our city's largest proposed budget and once again, it fits more than 50% towards policing and incarceration while putting only 1% into housing advocacy during a housing crisis and only 3% to social services that can provide a life raft for our residents. nothing to address food insecurity, instead investing the entirety of the agriculture and food systems fund to pay wealthy farm owners not to develop their land. Council should not approve any new funding for policing in this budget, but one item that's especially troublesome is the $150,000 for an intelligence unit, which according to a recent article already exists and the public had not been previously made aware of. Transparency isn't our strong suit here. A little over a year ago, the Flock Camp Pilot Program was approved, and before it had even been rolled out, the mayor's budget proposed $275,000 for 75 more cameras. Concerned community members and organizations bagged and pleaded with council not to approve the expansion of that program without clear safeguards in place. We shared that the cameras were being placed in neighborhoods with primarily black and brown residents who already experienced over-policing and criminalization. Some council members said they wanted the expansion because then the cameras would be spread out more. We predicted that isn't what would happen, that it wouldn't work like pie with an even spread amongst the slices. We said this will just mean more cameras in those marginalized areas. And having reviewed the maps of the recently released locations, we were unfortunately right. My district, District 9, has one camera. One. While others have 20 or more. Some within a block of one another. We're told these cameras are used to read license plates after crimes, but the placement of the cameras and lack of them in certain places implies that criminals don't drive in those areas. Am I truly to believe there's no criminals in my district? That all the people committing crimes live in two or three districts in the city and warrant an extreme level of targeting? Contrary to what some may say, we aren't misinformed, we aren't disinformed. We see very clearly what's happened, and we need council to stop sweeping it under the rug and demand the transparency the residents of the city deserve. Please remove the intelligence unit from the budget. That item would put the cost of flat camps to nearly half a million dollars per year. We need full transparency, a data audit by impartial sources, and a full review of the program. To fund it further without those things is irresponsible and frankly upholds racist policies. We have many needs in the city that don't further criminalize our communities. Maybe the Sobering Center, the Racial Justice Commission suggested three years ago, or an even greater increase for the paramedicine program or housing assistant. I urge you to take a look at the Lexington People's Budget that I'm sure has probably been emailed to you many times by now. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next is Dawn Pratt. Welcome. Am I? Wait till you listen to me. You might not be welcome here. But actually, I wondered while the invocation was given, how many people understood what he was saying? Did anybody? He said, pay attention to Don Pratt. He mispronounced my name, so you didn't understand that. But in reality, this is a representative body, and you represent specific interests for the most part. But I truly wish you were leaders, because leaders do something that this whole city, this whole state, this whole nation needs to do. And this state could follow your lead because you are probably second in terms of influence other than we have a horrible legislature. And I apologize if you are represented by that party and it's not personal. But I do know that the issues I want you to address are not being addressed properly in this budget, though I trust you a lot better, and I'm glad to see so many new faces I don't know. We will waste money if we have feel-goodism projects to fight the drug war and to fight gun violence. I apologize to you, but I trust you more than I do the state legislator to change that policy. Both of those are failures in our government. Because we're not going to win that war, we've been losing it since Gatewood and I appeared before the marijuana committee, joint committee, the Senate and House of Representatives. And the other issue is easy access to weapons that's so pervasive in this community. And you can put all the cameras up that you want, but that ain't going to get it where the kids are killing themselves by suicide, which is the number one reason we have a need for gun regulation and control. We have to have a stop of easy access to weapons. My dad was killed in a petty robbery. So I know it for years ago. Now, traffic spending is also a major issue, and it should be addressed, such as the garbage on Loudoun Avenue, Bryan Avenue, and Casswood Park. Two, reduction of lanes coming towards town on Tate's Creek Pike. They should be shifted. Three is the blinking light on, there should be a blinking light on Vine turning, when there's lights, stop lights, and cars are racing around that corner, you can't see it, you need it. Sorry, I see. garbage reduction you need a resolution to do something about the massive amount of garbage we create as individuals thank you thank you very much i don't have anyone else signed up for the budget hearing so the budget hearing is now closed at this time we have two presentations Thank you. Okay, well, first of all, I'd like to ask Coach Cole Pleasance and Councilmember Sevigny to join me at the podium. I think you have a fan club. I hate to say this, Councilmember, but I think Cole has a fan club. It wasn't me. Come on up here. At this year's Kentucky High School Athletics Association Swim State Championship meet, the members of the swim and dive team of Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School left their mark. they're right up front so y'all stand up and come on spread it out you spread you spread out well why don't y'all come up come on up just come fill in and then we'll later do a photo the tv's over here get around get around here this way come on come on over here This side. This side. This side. There's a lot of them. So first of all, let's give them a round of applause for their championship. Several team members won state championship titles and even set new statewide records. And I am so proud of these young people who give it their all each and every day. And additionally, Coach Pleasance, whom I've known for a little while, was named the Girls Coach of the Year. Coach, I appreciate you and your coaching staff's dedication to helping these young athletes be the best they can be. I'm really excited, and I know the council is too, to cheer all of you on in your future success. We have prepared Spirit of Lexington certificates for each person, and now it is my pleasure to present a proclamation to the team. So I'll ask Coach Pleasance if he would accept this, and I'll read it to you. Absolutely. Okay. Whereas the 2022-23 Paul Lawrence Dunbar swim and dive team won its third consecutive combined state championship title, representing the sixth in school history. And whereas Coach Cole Pleasance was awarded the prestigious Tim Cahill Award for Outstanding Girls Coach at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association State Championship Meet. And whereas team members of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar swim and dive team captured three KHSAA state championship titles at the state meet, and whereas in a hard-fought battle of strong competitors, Dunbar girls placed fifth in the state at the state championship meet, and the Dunbar boys were runners-up. Now, therefore, I, Linda Gorton, Mayor of Lexington, do hereby declare May 11, 2023, Dunbar Swim and Dive Day in Lexington. Congratulations to all of you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Do you want to say a few words? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Do you want to say a few words? Yeah. Coach. On behalf of Dunbar Swim and Dive team, I just want to thank Mayor Gordon and the council members for this recognition. We really appreciate it. Thank you all. Thank you. Council member Savigny is going to say a few words. Yeah, I just want to thank this team for winning. We talk a lot of smack up in the horseshoe up here, and I'm tired of Frederick Douglass, and I'm tired of Ryan Station stuff. So it's really nice to have the Dunbar folks. My kids went to Dunbar. And I want the, you know, the one thing I'll say about SWIM is SWIM parents are, they're like the hardest working parents. They are up at 4 a.m. generally or 5 a.m. hauling you around. The happiest day is when you win and when you get your license. That's when they're so excited. So congratulations to the parents. Thank you so much. Let's get a photo. We'll get a photo with the council. I know. Thank you. All right, if I could have Dawn Duncan Walters and Councilmember Gray join me at the podium, please. I thought I was just going to dinner. So this apparently is a surprise. All right. Dawn Duncan Walters is the head coach of the award-winning University of Kentucky dance team. Yes, and she thought she was going out to dinner. She is also the founder of Cheers, Inc., the first all-star cheerleading facility in Kentucky. It's located right here in Lexington, and she has a passion for working with our young people and helping them succeed and become the best versions of themselves. Yeah. You all surprised me, right? Yes, I did too. Dawn is a trailblazer and she has been breaking glass ceilings her entire career. Dawn, thank you for everything that you do for our city and beyond. And now I am proud to present you a proclamation. These are great photos. whereas Don Duncan Walters is a trailblazer and esteemed Bryan Station high school graduate who attended the University of Kentucky. You have a few fellow grads here. Whereas Don is the head coach of the University of Kentucky dance team and whereas Don was a member of the original UK Dance Cat Squad and a two-time Universal Cheerleaders Association national champion cheerleader for the Wildcats. And whereas Dawn opened the very first all-star cheerleading facility in Kentucky, Cheers, Inc., and made it a blueprint for all-star cheer programs nationwide. And whereas she coached the UK white cheer squad for a year and organized and for eight years coached the UK Wildcat dancers, National Dance Alliance Collegiate National Champions. And whereas she has managed and coached the dance teams for the Thoroughblades ice hockey team and for what is now the Lexington Counter-Clocks baseball team, formerly the Lexington Legends. And whereas Dawn has been featured on national news programs, in magazines, in documentaries, and has been a mentor to countless young people around Lexington and around the world, Now, therefore, I, Linda Gorton, Mayor of Lexington, do hereby declare May 11, 2023, Don Duncan Walters Day in Lexington. Congratulations. We'll ask her if she'd like to say a few words. First of all, thank you, everyone. You're welcome. Thank you, Denise. Thank you. I mean, I'm just, yeah, I thought I was going to dinner at some new restaurant that they've built in the courthouses. And I'm like, and I go in and I said, we need your driver's license. And I went, okay, we've got to do a driver's license in this new place that we're going to eat. So I literally have no idea that this is going on. I am so honored and appreciative. And, yeah, I just, I'm very blessed and just very grateful that I've been able to do something that I've loved to do and have been able to share it with so many kids. is I had Denise. I had Denise as a kid, her sister, I have Jamie, everybody. I mean, just, I've been blessed to go through those kind of things, and I am just extremely honored for this. So thanks, everyone. I appreciate it. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. I'll say a few more about Don. Dawn Duncan Walters was my role model. I remember the first time I saw her. She was cheerleader for the University of Kentucky. Yes, she was the only one that looked like me. I said I wanted to be her. And later on, she became my coach, and I've been in awe of her since even before I met her. She's been a positive part, a role model for countless young people, and even adults. She is a trailblazer, and she did it in a way that there's grace. and there's positivity. She encouraged, never tore down. And that's the type of leader that we were blessed to have. Those who were on the UK dancers, dance team, the dancers, the thoroughblades, and of course, Cheers Incorporated. So thank you, Dawn, for all that you've done for each and every single one of us. you deserve all the flowers. You deserve all the positive recognition. Because, oh, don't cry. Because just of who you are. So thank you. Love you. Thank you. That's fine. Thank you. All right, thank you all so much. And now is the time we'll have public comment for those who want to comment on the Crown Act. And I am going to just state your name. And if you are, if you'll come to the podium and state your name and your council district for the record, if you want to talk about something else, we'll get to you when we get to the other public comment. So first is Attica Scott. And I think that before you speak, I think there are two people who wanted to give you time. Is Jackie Floyd here? Where are you Jackie? Okay, did you want to give your three minutes? And then Adetaji, Akanebode, I'm sorry if I massacred your name, are you here? No? Okay, so you'll have six minutes. All right, fantastic. Thank you so much. And thank you to Councilwoman Fogel for the invitation to speak with y'all this evening about an issue that is personal and political for me. I am former State Representative Attica Scott and the Crown Act in Kentucky has an origin story that began when my daughter's school created a policy to ban natural hair. I'm a mama who believes in protecting her children. In August 2016, my daughter was a rising sophomore. We went to orientation during my lunch break from my full-time job, picked up the necessary paperwork and went immediately back home so that I could get back to work. As soon as I finished up at work, my daughter showed me the new dress code policy that included a hair policy banning natural hair and protective styles, styles that she wears and that I obviously wear as well. I'm proud of my daughter and her classmates who organize to get the policy changed. Now this was in Jefferson County. Her story made national and international news. In 2020, she was featured in a 20-minute documentary funded by Queen Latifah and airing on black entertainment television and Showtime. In 2022, she was featured in a documentary on Netflix. Students around the globe were sharing how they were inspired by my child speaking up about hair discrimination. Many workplaces and schools maintain dress and appearance guidelines. However, unlike clothing, which one can change, hair is a living part of you and it looks different from person to person. One of the decisions that black people have been forced to make before their first day of work or school is what to do with our hair. Should it be blown straight, chemically treated, or worn naturally or naturally styled, like with braids, locks, afros, twists, bantu knots, or cornrows? These thoughts are not just cosmetic, and they are certainly not superficial. Sadly, we must make these choices because of discriminatory practices imposed by institutional and arbitrary grooming policies. These policies are racially discriminatory, yet they are also legal. Unfortunately, in many states it is legal to discriminate against a person based on their hair, especially black folks. Who do you know that teaches, owns a business, or wields power over access to housing that would want to oppose passing the Crown Act? Who do you know that actively wants to discriminate? The Crown Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, which is the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective styles including braids, locks, twists, or bantu knots. My daughter asked me to file the Crown Act shortly after I was sworn into office in January 2017. Kentuckians for the Commonwealth asked if I would be interested in filing the bill shortly after winning my re-election in 2018. So I did my research, lots of research. If you got some questions about the Crown Act, I can probably answer your questions. And I worked with folks across Kentucky in 2019 to file the first Crown Act bill and have led the effort since. Now, numerous localities have passed the Crown Act, including California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington, Colorado, and Maryland. And Covington passed the Crown Act unanimously in 2020. Louisville passed the Crown Act unanimously in 2021. And I'm sure that there are many people in Lexington who are counting on you to be the next city in our commonwealth to pass the crown act. And thank you of course to Councilwoman Fogle, Gray, and Lynch for your leadership. It's a matter of life or death literally. In a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, it found adverse health effects for chemical hair straightening products. Dr. Che Jung Chang, a co-author of the study, stated that because black women use hair straightening or relaxer products more frequently and tend to initiate use at earlier ages than any other race or ethnicity, these findings may be even more relevant for them, for me, for some of your colleagues. That information alone should sound the alarm and be a call to action. Why do we feel like we need to conform to a false standard of beauty? Duke University found in a study that black women with natural hair styles were perceived to be less professional and less competent and were less likely to be recommended for job interviews than their white counterparts. In a 2019 study commissioned by Dove, which some of you might use Dove to wash your hands or your body, It found that a black woman is 80% more likely to change her natural hair to meet social norms or expectations at work than a white woman. I'm here to encourage you to pass the Crown Act. We have the research, literally have the research. We know that it harms our health to use chemical straighteners. And we know that people are being discriminated against. You have the opportunity to prevent more people from getting cancer because they're trying to conform. You have the opportunity to act now to pass the Crown Act. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. All right, next is, and I just want to reiterate our council's policy that we prefer that you Do not express happiness or sadness or booze, anything like that. So if you'll hold your applause, please. Next is Adidaji Akimbode. Are you here? And then next after that will be Kilton Akimbode. Welcome. I would just like to clarify that my name is Katon. That's my dad. My name is Katon Adaydegi. OK, was he signed up to speak then? We had someone earlier. It was a mistake. His name was put on instead of mine. I'm here to read a poem concerning the Crown Act. OK, if you would like to speak, it's your turn then. OK, thank you. Hello, I'm Lexington's current youth poet laureate. And I'm here today to read one of my poems called The Cage. To them, my hair had grown out off the top of my head and used its tight coils to build a cage around me, making an exotic animal kept in a cage thousands of miles away from its home. They reach into the depths of my cage to touch my coils for a feel of my exoticness. I had never built my cage, only living in it. Unable to muster the courage to move the image away from their minds, I had let them examine me as a specimen. I was exotic, because every time I looked outside my cage, I saw carbon copies, pale people looking at me, mouth agape as I let them claw through my fur, tarnishing myself with it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, the next name is Prodigy. Are you going to speak to the Crown Act or something else? Are you here? Mayor, I don't think they made it here yet from Louisville, Kentucky, so you can pass. Okay, thank you. Dottie Bean, are you speaking on the Crown Act? No. Okay. Stephanie White, are you speaking on the Crown Act? Okay, welcome. If you'll state your name and council district for the record, please. Of course. Stephanie White, I'm in District 6. Thank you all so much for this opportunity to continue the conversation on the Crown Act. As my fellow community members have already given you a plethora of information as to why this legislation is important, I just hope to continue that conversation a little bit tonight. So the Crown Act is designed to protect individuals from discrimination based on their natural hair, texture, and style, which is fundamentally a civil rights issue. Discrimination based on hair, texture, and style has long been used to perpetuate systems that advance some and hinder others. And passing the Crown Act legislation is a critical step towards dismantling and mitigating these harmful practices. From the perspective of economic growth, we talked about our budget earlier in this session, we have the possibility to eliminate barriers to employment and entrepreneurship faced by people with natural hair. By creating a more level playing field, the legislation can support economic growth and innovation by allowing all individuals to pursue their passions and achieve their full potential. By pousing the Crown Act, the City of Lexington will send a powerful message that we value and embrace diversity in all forms, allowing people to wear their natural hair without the fear of discrimination, promotes inclusivity, and creates a more welcoming and accepting environment for all. discrimination based on hair texture and style can lead to psychological harm including depression anxiety low self-esteem not to mention all the cancer causing effects that we learned about some of the products that some choose to use on their hair to conform the crown act can help mitigate these negative effects by creating a safer and more supportive environment for individuals with natural hair for many individuals their natural hair is an essential part of their identity and self-expression. And the Crown Act helps these individuals feel confident and proud of their hair, which can have a positive impact on their self-image, their mental health, and their overall well-being. Many of us have seen and read news articles about children whose hair had been cut by school officials, students being bullied over their natural hair, students being kicked out or expelled from school because of their natural hair. And the The list goes on with multiple cities across our country. As a pediatrician, this is alarming. When combined with the increased influence that social media and our societal pressures have on the mental health of our youth, there is no more compelling reason that we should collectively strive to utilize all approaches to concretize our values and keep our community healthier. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next is Raymond Sexton. Do you wish to comment on the Crown Act or something else? Okay. Michael Fuqua? Excuse me, I'm sorry. Kennedy Fuqua? No? Michael Schwartzentruber? Something else. Brewer Conley. Okay. Cora Brightigan. Ralph Senninger. Did you want to speak to the Crown Act? Something else? Okay. Gunnar Brackney. John Pratt. okay jordan lloyd did you want to speak to the crown act if you'll state your name and your council district and you'll have three minutes welcome hello everybody my name is jordan lloyd district one i'm the vice chair of the fayette county Democratic Party here with Karen Summers who is the chair of the Fayette County Democratic Party. We're also here with a number of our other executive council members. We are just here to fully endorse and support the Crown Act. We think this is a great policy. It will have numerous effects, positive effects on our community for the numerous reasons that have already been stated. I'd also like to give a big shout out to our council members, Gray, Lynch, and Fogle, who have been supporting and pushing this movement as well. So we just are here to support and endorse. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next is Danny Everett. Welcome. Oh yeah my first name is Danny for those who didn't know. Most people know me as Pasty or Anthony Everett. I'm Reverend Dr. Anthony Everett and I want to thank Representative Councilwoman Fogle. I want to thank Councilwoman as well as Councilwoman Lynch in this effort to move this forward. I no longer have that crown, as you can see. I'm into Reggie, in the same boat that he's in. But I have two daughters that have crowns, and they wear locks. I have two sons that have their crowns. I have a daughter-in-law, a beautiful daughter-in-law that has her crown. I have two beautiful granddaughters that have their crown. And I'm blessed that every morning I get to wake up to a beautiful black woman that has her crown as well. And so when I look at the history of all of this, I think about my wife and I, we went to Ghana last year to connect to our cultural roots as people of African descent. When we went there, we got to visit the slave castles. We got to visit the dungeons and where our ancestors came through in order to make it into being enslaved. A lot of people did not make it through those dungeons. But it was an experience that was cathartic, it was cleansing in a sense. And it was an opportunity for us to return to a place that people of African descent were never to return to again. What I recognize is that enslavement was about controlling our bodies. And when we talk about the Crown Act and moving forward with being able to express ourselves through our hair and through other ways, we're no longer bound by enslavement in that sense. And so I really want to implore this council unanimously to support this act and to move forward with that. Thank you. Thank you very much. That takes us to the end of our sign-ins for the Crown Act. I want to thank each of you for your testimonies and thoughts on the Crown Act. Thank you. And now I'll ask our clerk to go ahead with second reading of ordinances. Ordinance number one, an ordinance minding center of the budgets of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriating and reappropriating funds, fiscal year 2023, schedule number 35, and number two, an ordinance minding center of the budgets of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for funds in the amount of $36,650 to provide funds for council capital projects in the Division of Traffic Engineering and Division of Streets and Roads and Appropriating and Reappropriating Funds, schedule number 36. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second. Council Member Ellinger moved. Councilmember Baxter seconded. When you're ready, if you'll take a roll call vote, please. Where is that? Okay. Councilmember Fogle. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Council Member Gray? Yes. Council Member LeGree? Yes. Council Member Lynch? Yes. Council Member Menares? Yes. Council Member Reynolds? Yes. Council Member Sivigny? Yes. Council Member Sheehan? Yes. Council Member Worley? Yes, ma'am. Vice Mayor Wu? Yes. Council Member Fred Brown? Yes. Council Member James Brown? Yes. Council Member Ellinger? Yes, ma'am. And Council Member Elliott Baxter? Thank you. Thank you. Those pass. And when you're ready, if you'll read the first reading of ordinances, please. Item 3, an ordinance admitting certain of the budgets of the Lexington Bay Urban County Government to pre-fund various components of the fiscal year 2024 budget. As outlined in the fiscal year 2024, Mayor's proposed budget document approved at work session May 2, 2023, and appropriating and reproving funds, schedule number 37. Item 4. In ordinance mending the budget of the Lake St. Fay Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for funds in the amount of $72,900 to provide funds for council capital projects in the Division of Parks and Recreation, appropriating and re-appropriating funds, Code number 39. Item 5, in ordinance mending the authorized strength by abolishing one vacant classified civil service position of Storrs Clerk, grade 509N, including one classified civil service position of Recreation Specialist Senior, grade 516E, in the Division of Parks and Recreation, effective on passage of council. Item 6, in ordinance mending the classified civil service authorized strength by creating one classified position of public information officer, grade 523E, in the division of community corrections, effective upon passage of council. Item 7, in ordinance mending the authorized strength by abolishing one vacant classified civil service position of staff assistant, grade 509N, and creating one classified position of staff assistant senior, grade 511N, in the division of police, effective upon passage of council. Item 8, an ordinance amending to start in the budget that the Lexington-Faylor-Urban County government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriating and re-reporting funds, Fiscal Year 2023, Schedule number 38. Item 9, an ordinance amending to start in the budget that the Lexington-Faylor-Urban County government to reflect current requirements for funds in the amount of $29,836 to provide funds for council capital projects in the Division of Traffic Engineering and Appropriating and Re-reporting Funds, Schedule number 41. Item 10, an ordinance known as the Crown Act, creating Section 2-31.1 of the Code of Ordinances to declare natural hair texture style and protective coverings as a protected characteristic of race and national origin in order to prohibit discrimination based on these characteristics. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any walk-ons? All right. Council Member Fogle, you were not a walk-on, correct? No. Okay. All right. All right. Now, suspend the rules for second reading. Council Member Fogle. Thank you, Mayor. I'm going to try to get this one right. So I move to suspend the rules to give a second reading to item number 10 under the ordinance. So moved. Is there a second? Council Member Gray seconds. Any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. Council Member Gray. Yes, Mayor. I would like to suspend the rolls for a second reading for number 40 and 42. Oh, we're not? We'll get there in a few minutes. Well, hold on. We'll get there in a few minutes. It's your fault. Hold that thought. Okay, are there any other motions to suspend the rules and give second reading to the first reading of ordinances? All right. We have number 10. If you'll give the second reading. Yes, ma'am. Item 10, an ordinance known as the Crown Act creating section 2-31.1 of the Code of Ordinances to declare natural hair, texture, style, and protective coverings as a protected characteristic of race and national origin in order to prohibit discrimination based on these characteristics. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Move to approve. All right. Council Member Baxter moves to approve. Council Member Reynolds seconds. And when you're ready, if you'll take the roll call vote, please. Council Member Fogle? Yes. Council Member Gray? Yes. Council Member Legree? Yes. Council Member Lynch? Yes. Council Member Minares? Yes. Councilmember Reynolds yes council members to Vigny yes council member Sheehan yes council member Worley vice mayor Wu council member Fred Brown yes council member James Brown council member Ellinger yes ma'am and council member Elliot Baxter thank you all right thank you that item passes now it is time for second reading of resolutions Item 1. Grade 515 and 20.694 hourly in the division streets and roads effective March 19, 2023. Item 3. A resolution authorized on the mayor on behalf of every county government to execute the first amendment to the contract with Kentucky Association of Environmental Education to expand services provided for environmental education for the division of environmental services and to execute the second renewal of the contract as amended at a cost not to exceed $16,570.80 in fiscal year 2023 and $364,012.77 in fiscal year 2024. Item 4. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of Irby County Government to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Kentucky State Police for use of the 800 megahertz P25 trunked radio system at no cost to the government. Item 5. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of Irby County Government to execute a professional services agreement to work pursuant to RFP number 18-2023 with Solar Energy Solutions LLC for installation of a roof mounted solar photovoltaic system at the Police West Training Center at a cost not to receive $80,443.24. Item 6. A resolution authorizing and directing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute a purchase and service agreement with the Lexington Pride Center for Support to Support the Annual LGTBQ Festival at a cost not to exceed $2,500. Item 7. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute an engineering services agreement award pursuant to RFP No. 15-2023 with Stantec Consulting Services Incorporated for the completion of a rural service area sewer capability study for the vendor water quality at a cost not to exceed $337,702. Item 8. A resolution authorizing the Division of Community Corrections to purchase internal affairs and professional standards unit software from CI Technology Incorporated, a social source provider, and authorizing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute any necessary agreement with CI Technologies Incorporated related to the procurement at the cost of $45,500. Item 9. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute and submit a 2023 consolidated plan grant application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide any additional information request in connection with this grant application and to accept the grant if the application is approved. group grant funds are in the amount of $3,994,940 in federal funds for the FY 2024 Community Development Block Grant Program, $2,340,927. Home Program, $1,449,360. And Emergency Solutions Grant ESG Program, $204,653. The acceptance of which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of $359,611 from various funding sources as a local match and $145,042 in an in-kind match. and authorizing the mayor to execute agreements for the approved plan, and authorizing the mayor to transfer undercurrent funds within the grant budget. Item 10. A resolution authorizing and directing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute an agreement to accept a grant of $23,600 from the Trust of Public Land through on Common Ground activating community connections through parks for the Division of Parks and Recreation, the exception of which does not obligate the urban county government to the expenditure funds, and authorizing the mayor to transfer undercurrent funds within the grant budget. And item 11, a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of every county government to execute an agreement with the Lexington Community Land Trust Incorporated allocating $2 million of federal grant funds or to pursue into the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ARPA for the construction of the Davis Bottom Community Center and authorizing the mayor to execute any other necessary agreements or amendments related to the use of these funds. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Thank you. Council Member Sheehan moves. Council Vice Mayor Wu seconds. And when you're ready, if you'll take a roll call vote, please. Council Member Fogle? Yes. Council Member Gray? Yes. Council Member Legree? Yes. Council Member Lynch? Yes. Council Member Menares? Yes. Council Member Reynolds? Yes. Council Member Sevigny? Yes. Council Member Sheehan? Yes. Council Member Worley? Yes, ma'am. Vice Mayor Wu? Yes. Council Member Fred Brown? Yes. Council member James Brown. Yes. Council member Ellinger. Yes, ma'am. And council member Elliott Baxter. Thank you. Thank you, those pass. Now, I believe before first reading of resolutions, council member Legree has a motion. Yes, thank you, mayor. I move to amend item number 26 under resolutions first reading relating to an agreement with the Lexington Philharmonic to set up and and execute Lexington's patriotic concert for the July 4th festivities. To amend the cost for the agreement to an amount not to exceed $45,000. So moved. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Council member Sheehan seconds. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? Okay. Thank you. That passes. All right. Now, when you're ready, if you'll give first reading to resolutions. Yes, ma'am. Item 12. A resolution authorizing the Division of Waste Management to purchase transportation and recycling and reuse of glass from strategic materials as a sole source provider. An authorizing the mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute any necessary agreement with strategic materials related to procurement. Item 13. A resolution authorizing the Division of Waste Management to purchase equipment repairs and service from Service Solutions, a sole source provider and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the government to execute any necessary agreement with service solutions incorporated related to the procurement. Item 16, a resolution authorizing the Division of Waste Management to purchase hardware, software, and support services for scales from Mettler Toledo, a sole source provider and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the government to execute any necessary agreement with Mettler Toledo related to the procurement. Item 17, a resolution authorizing the Division of Waste Management to purchase electronic vehicle inspection reporting software, hardware, data plans, and professional services from Zonar Systems LLC, a social search provider, and authorizing the mayor on behalf of your mechanical government to execute any necessary agreement with the Zonar Systems LLC related to the procurement. Item 18. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of your mechanical government to execute an application for renewal of the state landfill permit for the closed Haley Pike Waste Management Facility. Item 19. A resolution authorizing the division of waste management to purchase maintenance support from AE Electrical, a social search provider, and authorizing the mayor on behalf of your mechanical government to execute any necessary agreement with AE Electrical related to the procurement. Item 20. A resolution authorizing the Division of Waste Management to purchase Baylor wire from Accent Wire Tie, a sole source provider, and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute any necessary agreement with Accent Wire Tie related to the procurement. Item 21. A resolution authorizing the Division of Waste Management to purchase professional consulting services from Resource Recycling System, a sole source provider, and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute any necessary agreement with Resource Recycling System related to the procurement. Item 22. I have a resolution and authorizing the Division of Waste Management to purchase parts, repairs, and installation services from Bullock County Belting and Supply, a sole social provider, and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the American government to execute in a necessary agreement with Bullock County Belting and Supply related to the procurement. Item 23. I have a resolution and authorizing the Division of Waste Management to purchase parts and services from Machinix Technologies as a sole social provider and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the American government to execute in a necessary agreement with Machinix Technologies related to the procurement. Item 24. A resolution authorizes the Division of Waste Management to purchase parts and services from municipal equipment, a sole social provider, and authorizes the mayor on behalf of the American government to execute any necessary agreement with municipal equipment related to the procurement. Item 25 A resolution authorizes the Division of Waste Management to purchase parts and services from Louisville Industrial Supply, a sole social provider, and authorizes the mayor on behalf of the American government to execute any necessary agreement with Louisville Industrial Supply related to procurement. Item 26, a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute an agreement with the Lexington Philharmonic to set up and execute Lexington's Patriotic Concert for the July 4th festivities at a cost not to exceed $45,000 as amended. Item 27, a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute a premises use agreement with R.G. Corman Railroad Company, Central Kentucky Lines LLC for the setup and execution of Lexington's 4th of July fireworks at the railroads Lexington Yard. Item 28. A resolution authorizing and directly mayor on behalf of the mechanical government to execute an agreement with Pyrotechnico, Fireworks Incorporated for fireworks display of July 4, 2023, or the postponement date of July 5, 2023, at a sum not to exceed $18,000 with the exception of an additional 10% in case of a postponement. Item 29. A resolution authorizing on behalf of the American Government to execute certificates of consideration and other necessary documents and to accept deeds for property interest located at 299 Southland Drive needed for the brownfield remediation and future sanitary sewer convenience and stormwater management purposes that it costs not to exceed $275,000. Item 30, a resolution authorizing Struthman and Company certified public accountants and advisors to conduct a financial audit of all Lexington Fair Urban County Government funds for fiscal year 2023 for an amount not to exceed $175,000 for fiscal year 2024 and authorizing a director of the mayor on behalf of the mayor or commissioner of finance on behalf of the urban county government to execute a letter or agreement and any other necessary documents with Struthman and Company related to the audit. Item 31. A resolution authorizing and directing mayor or commissioner of finance on behalf of the urban county government to execute a letter agreement and any other necessary documents with Thothman and Company, certified public accountants and auditor for preparation of the sheriff's settlement for the 2022 property tax year at a cost not to receive $9,000 FY 2024. Item 32. A resolution authorizing and directing mayor on behalf of the urban county government to execute a purchase of service agreement with Frontrunners Lexington for the annual Pride Run 5K at a cost not to receive $1,000. Item 33. A resolution establishing Adapt Pharma as a sole source provider of nasal Narcan for the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, FY 2022 Congressional Directive Spending Projects, award for the barrier-free re-entry and recovery initiative for Department of Social Services, and authorizing mayor or her designee on behalf of the urban county government, and the necessary agreements with Adapt Pharma related to the procurement of these goods at a cost not received $171,570. Item 34. A resolution establishing Adapt Pharma as a sole source provider of nasal Narcan for the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, FY 2022, First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Support Services Act, Extended First Responders and Community Partners Overdose Prevention Project for the Department of Social Services, and authorizing the mayor or her designee on behalf of the Irving County Government to execute any necessary agreements with Adapt Pharma related to the procurement of these goods that would cost not to exceed $65,550, item 35. I resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of the government to execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application and to accept the grant if the application is approved, which grant funds are in the amount of $55,623 of federal funds under the Victim Assistance Formula Grant funded by the Victims of Crime Act VOCA for support of a bilingual victim's advocate in the Division of Police, the exception which obligates the urban county government to an expenditure of $18,541 as a local match, and authorizing the mayor to transfer any cover funds within the grant budget. Item 36. A resolution on authorizing the director of the mayor on behalf of the mechanic government to execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application and to accept the grant if the application is approved, which grant funds are on the amount of $100,000 in federal funding, the Victim Assistance Formula Grant funded by the Victims of Crime Act VOCA for the implementation of the Underserved Minority Victims Advocacy Program in the Department of Social Services, The exception which obligates the Irving County Government to the expenditure of $57,644 as a local match and authorizing the Mayor to transfer other funds within the grant budget. Item 37, a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor on behalf of Irving County Government to accept a donation from Kentucky Office of Highway Safety of Highway Safety Equipment for the use of the Division of Police at no cost to the Government. Item 38. Division of Parks and Recreation, $2,500, pending completion and approval of any necessary budget amendments. Item 39. A resolution ratifying the permanent classified civil service appointments of Matthew McFarland, heavy equipment operator, grade 516N, 22.041, hourly in the Division of Streets and Roads, effective May 7, 2023, Donna Jones, equipment operator, senior, grade 515N, 20.819, hourly in the Division of Streets and Roads, effective May 7, 2023, Eve Miller, planner, senior, grade 523A, 38.072, hourly in the Division of Environmental Services, May 21, 2023, Jacob Stevens, Municipal Engineer Senior, Grade 528E, 3307.92, bi-weekly in the Division of Engineering, effective April 3, 2023, Jesse Henderson, skilled trades worker, Grade 515N, 22.301, hourly in the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management, effective May 7, 2023, Jeffrey Nally, Project Manager, Grade 520N, 26.554, hourly in the Division of Parks and Recreation, effective May 5, 2023, item 40. I resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute an agreement with Tanya Walker to serve as director of It Takes a Village Summer Youth Program for one Lexington at a cost not to receive $6,000. Item 41. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of our beginning government to execute an extension agreement with Civic Lex Incorporated for Rental Space at the Pan Miller Downtown Arts Center to extend the current lease contract 268-2019 for a period of one year beginning July 1, 2023 in consideration of anticipated annual rental revenue in the amount of $3,528. Item 42. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute an agreement with the Andrews Counseling and Consulting PLLC to provide counseling support to participants of It Takes a Village Summer Youth Program for one Lexington at a cost not to exceed $28,000. Item 43. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute an agreement RFQ number 48-2022 with Palmer Engineering Incorporated for Design and Engineering Services for Harrodsburg Road Share Use Trail Project to get a cost in order to see $930,577 to be paid with funds awarded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. ARPA and authorizing the mayor to execute any other necessary agreements or amendments with the Palmer Engineering Incorporated related to the use of these funds. Item 44. A resolution and authorizing the director of the mayor on behalf of our beginning government to execute an amendment number two to the agreement with Fayette Park Homeowners Association Incorporated under the Neighborhood Action Match Program extending the project to May 31, 2024 at no additional cost. Item 45. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to accept an additional award of $116,620.70 in federal funds under the American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Department for Community-Based Services in order to support child care expenses in the extended school program in the Division of Parks and Recreation, the exception which does not obligate the Urban County Government to the expenditure funds, and authorizing the Mayor to transfer an undercover fund within the grant budget. Item 46. A resolution authorizing, Dr. Mayor, on behalf of the American Government, actually an agreement related to the neighborhood development funds for Windom Meadows Homeowners Association Incorporated, 500, Palomar Hills Community Association Incorporated, 1000, Sunrise Children's Services Incorporated, 425, Kentucky Refugee Ministries Incorporated, 1700, Radio Lex, 2400, the Southland Association Incorporated, 1150, Redwood Cooperative School Incorporated, 1000, Transylvania Park Committee Incorporated, 900, Southern Heights Neighborhood Association Incorporated, 500, Bell Court Neighborhood Association Incorporated 900, Arbor Youth Services Incorporated 540, the Lansdowne Neighborhood Association Incorporated 1000, Magnolia Run Carriage Homes Incorporated 500, and William Wells Brown Neighborhood Association Incorporated $250 for the office of the Urban County Council. It costs not to exceed the sum stated. Item 47, a resolution authorizing and directly to the mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute an agreement, RFP number 38-2023 with Omni Commercial LLC for work on the Black and Williams Gymnasium Renovation Project. Etacast not to exceed $1,319,588 to be paid with funds awarded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ARPA and authorizing the area to execute any other necessary agreements or amendments with Omni Commercial LLC related to the use of these funds. Thank you. Thank you very much. Are there any walk-ons? No? Are there any suspensions for second reading? Council Member Reynolds? Yes, I move to suspend the rules and give second reading to item 35. which is about the support for a bilingual victims advocate and the grant there. And for timing reasons, I'd like to suspend the rolls. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Vice Mayor Wu, any questions? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Council Member Sheehan? Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to suspend the rules and give second reading to item number 38. This is NDF funds or neighborhood development funds. It allows us to get the funding out to these neighborhood and local organizations quicker. Thank you. So moved. Second. Council Member Legree seconds. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. I have one more. Okay. I move to suspend the rules and give second reading to item number 46 for the same reason as also neighborhood development funds, so moved. Second. Vice Mayor Wu seconds. Any questions on 46? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Council Member Lynch? Thank you, Mayor. I move to suspend the rules and give a second reading to item 47 regarding the Black and Williams Gymnasium renovation project. Second. Thank you. And Council Member James Brown seconds. Are there any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Vice Mayor Wu. Thank you, Mayor. I have two items. I move to suspend the rules and give second reading to number 33 to provide Narcan for one of our programs. Thank you. Is there a second? Council Member Legree seconds. Any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Similar item, number 34, I move to suspend rules and give second reading to number 34, also a Narcan program. All right, thank you. Council Member Fogle seconds. Any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Council Member Legree. Thank you, Mayor, I have three. At the request of the administration, I move to suspend the rules and give second reading to item number 26. Is there a second? Second. Council member Sheehan seconds. Are there questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? That motion passes. I move to suspend the rules and give second reading to item number 27 for similar reasons. All right. Councilmember Fogle, did I hear you? Seconds? Are there any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. And Mayor, I move to suspend the rules and give second reading to item number 28 for similar reasons. So moved. All right, thank you. Second? Second. All right, Councilmember Sheehan. Any questions? All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Council Member Sevigny. Thank you, Mayor. I move to suspend the rules and give a second reading to item number 29. All right. Second. Vice Mayor Wu seconds. Are there any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Council Member Gray. Yes, Mayor. I would like to move to suspend the rules and give a second reading to number 40 and 42. All right. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Lynch seconds. Are there any questions about either of those? All right. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Are there any other suspensions, motions to suspend? All right, I believe we have 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 38, 40, 42, 46, and 47, correct? Okay, when you're ready, if you'll give those second reading, please. Yes, ma'am. Item 26. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of every county government to execute an agreement with Lexington Philharmonic to set up and execute Lexington's Patriotic Concert for the July 4th festivities. It costs not to receive $45,000 as amended. Item 27. A resolution authorizing and directing mayor on behalf of every county government to execute a premises use agreement with R.J. Corman Railroad Company, Central Kentucky Lines LLC for the setup and execution of Lexington's Fourth of July fireworks at the railroads Lexington Yard. Item 28. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute an agreement with Pyrotechnico Fireworks Incorporated for fireworks display on July 4, 2023, or the postponement date of July 5, 2023. It is some not to exceed $18,000 with the exception of an additional 10% in case of postponement. Item 29. A resolution authorizes the mayor and behalf of the urban county government to execute certificates of consideration and other necessary documents and to accept deeds for property interests located at 299 Southland Drive needed for the Brownfield remediation and future sanitary sewer conveyance and stormwater management purposes. It costs not to receive $275,000. Item 33. A resolution establishing Adapt Pharma as a sole source provider of nasal Narcan for the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, FY 2022, Congressional Directive Spending Project Award for the Barrier-Free Reentry and Recovery Initiative for the Department of Social Services. An authorizing mayor or her designee on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute a necessary agreement with Adapt Pharma related to the procurement of these goods that cost not to exceed $171,570. Item 34. A resolution establishing AdaptFarm as a source provider of nasal Narcan for United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration FY 2022, First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Support Services Act, Extended First Responders and Community Partners Overdice Prevention Project for the Department of Social Services, an authorizing mayor or her designee on behalf of the government to execute any necessary agreement with AdaptFarm related to the procurement of these goods. It costs not to exceed $65,550. Item 35. A resolution authorizing on behalf of Urban County Government to execute and submit a grant application to Kentucky Justice, a public safety cabinet, and to provide any additional information in connection with this grant application, and to accept this grant if the application is approved with grant funds are in the amount of $55,623 in federal funds under the Victim Assistance Formula Grant funded by the Victims of Crime Act, VOCA, for support of a bilingual victim's advocate in the Division of Police, the exception which obligates the Urban County Government to the expenditure of $18,541 as a local match, and authorizing the mayor to transfer undercover funds in the grant budget. Item 38. A resolution authorizing on Dr. Mayor on behalf of the county government to execute an agreement related to neighborhood development funds for Ashland Terrace, 1300. Leckleed Farm Village Homeowners Association, Incorporated, $674.50. William Wells Brown Neighborhood Association, Incorporated, $820. The Theater and Cultural Arts Center Corporation, $530.50. And Kentucky Access to Justice Commission, Incorporated, $500. for the Office of the Urban County Council to cost enough to exceed the sum stated and authorizing approved neighborhood development funds allocation to the Division of Parks and Recreation, $2,500, pending completion and approval of any necessary budget amendments. Item 40. A resolution authorizing Director of the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute an agreement with Tanya Walker to serve as Director of It Takes a Village Summer Youth Program for one Lexington at a cost enough to exceed $6,000. Item 42. A resolution authorizing to direct him on behalf of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government to execute an agreement with Andrews Counseling and Consulting PLLC to provide counseling support to participants of It Takes a Village Summer Youth Program for One Lexington at a cross-knock to receive $28,000. Item 46. A resolution authorizing. Incorporated 900, Arbor Youth Services Incorporated 540, the Lansdowne Neighborhood Association Incorporated 1000, Magnolia Run Carriage Homes Incorporated 500, and William Wells Brown Neighborhood Association Incorporated $250 for the office of the Irby County Council to cost not to exceed the sum stated in item 47. I resolution authorizing and directing mayor on behalf of Irby County Government to get an agreement with RFP number 382023 with Omni Commercial LLC for work on the Black and Williams Gymnasium Renovation Project at a cost not to exceed $1,319,588 to be paid with funds awarded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020 and authorizing the mayor to execute any other necessary agreements or amendments with Omni Commercial LLC related to the use of these funds. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Thank you. Council Member Baxter is second by Council Member Sheehan. And when you're ready, if you'll take a roll call vote, please. Council Member Fogle? Council Member Gray? Yes. Councilmember Legree? Yes. Councilmember Lynch? Yes. Councilmember Minares? Councilmember Reynolds? Yes. Councilmember Savigny? Yes. Councilmember Sheehan? Yes. Councilmember Worley? Yes, ma'am. Vice Mayor Wu? Yes. Councilmember Fred Brown? Yes. Councilmember James Brown? Yes. Councilmember Ellinger? Yes, ma'am. And And Councilmember Elliot Baxter. Thank you. Thank you. Those all pass. Councilmembers, next is communications from the mayor. I'll entertain a motion. So moved. Thank you. Councilmember Fogle moved. Councilmember Legree seconded. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Next, we'll need a motion for communications from the Mayor Price Contracts. So moved. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Second, Council Member Fogle. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. The next section is communications for your information only, and there are several pages of those. And that brings us to Chief Wells, who has, I believe, two disciplinary items. Welcome, Chief. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, members of the council. You're correct. I do have two for you this evening. The first one, on June 22, 2022, an internal allegation was made that firefighter Tariq White 55408 violated UDG 5.01 conformance to laws. At the conclusion of the investigation, the employee met with me and accepted a two-week suspension without pay. This is the result of, on June 22, 2022, firefighter White was arrested and charged with DUI. This is firefighter White's first documented offense. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Worley moves. Council Member James Brown seconds. Council Members, do you have questions? Council Member Baxter. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Chief. I just had a question on, I'm trying to figure out how to put this. Is that our typical first disciplinary for that type of charge? It has been since I've been the chief, yes. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Are there other questions? All right. All those in favor of approving the discipline, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Thank you. On the second, on November 5th, 2022, an internal allegation was made that firefighter Tyler O'Brien, 55424, violated uniform disciplinary guidelines, 1.04 violating any rules of the department, 2.04 inability to meet performance standards, and 6.03 honesty. At the conclusion of the investigation, the employee met with me and accepted a four-week suspension without pay, one-year revocation of acting officer status, and 24 hours of mandatory retraining. This is secondary to an event on November 2, 2022, in which Firefighter O'Brien failed to follow established medical protocol and failed to adequately document patient care. This is Firefighter O'Brien's first documented offense. Thank you. Council Member Reynolds, did you move? Thank you. Vice Mayor Wu seconded. Are there questions? All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Now it's time for announcements. Council members, if you'll log in. Council member James Brown. Thank you, Mayor. I'll just reiterate congratulations to the council members with successfully passing the Crown Act here in Fayette County. Council member Lynch, Gray, and Fogle for their work on this effort. I think it's going to have a bigger impact than I think most folks probably give it credit for. It's a big deal. The other thing I'll say, too, Mayor, I know it was a nurse's appreciation day, or is this nurse's appreciation week? It's week with a month. It's a month. Casey's shaking her head. Yes. This is the big week because it ends with Florence Nightingale's birthday. Birthday. Yeah, and being married to a nurse, I'd just like to publicly say thank you to all the nurses in our community and all over the world for the service they provide and all the work they do to take care of us when we're down and out. So thank you to all the nurses. And then I'll also just want to say thank you to Don Davis in Building Inspection. She's one of our building inspection officers. I had the privilege of riding around with her, seeing what she does on a day to day basis. And I was really impressed. She was just walking into facilities and just pointing out things. I mean, just like it was second nature. So I know we have a lot of great employees in the city and sometimes take for granted. I don't know what they do, so I appreciate the opportunity to learn. And then I'll just also say, since this is our last meeting before Sunday, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there and in our community. We love you. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. All right. Council Member Reynolds. Thank you, Mayor. I'm not very good at keeping up with all of the weeks and the months and the days anymore of recognitions. And so I apologize for that because I know there's been a lot lately. But I am going to highlight one tonight, and I'll tell you why in a second. But it's Mental Illness Awareness Month. And oftentimes we don't talk about mental health and the importance of our mental health enough. And mental illness is like diabetes or any other illness. It needs treatment and often medication. And sometimes there's a stigma around it and we don't talk about it. And I'm not going to go into my own story tonight except to say that I lived some really hard times, especially when I was pregnant with my son. and what got me through my hard times was always the people around me that were taking care of me and watching out for me and I was lucky enough and have been lucky enough to have those people in my life during difficult times but not everybody is so it's really important that we are there for the people that we know and that we're keeping tabs on them and making sure they're okay and helping the ones we love get the help that they need. Yesterday, my 18-year-old cousin committed suicide. And it hit me really hard. And oftentimes when someone takes their own life, there's a lot of ugly comments around that person. But the reality is any of us could be that person because sometimes our brains, they don't work right, and they tell us things that aren't true. And he had struggled a long time with his emotions, but he had a whole life ahead of him. And so I just want to encourage us to take mental health very seriously. and my dad is a psychologist so I grew up around asking for help but I hope that if anyone is struggling that they will ask for help. There's a national suicide lifeline and all you have to dial is 988 in order to reach that so if you don't have someone in your life that you can talk to you can always call that hotline. Right now I would like us to take a moment of silence for those who have lost their lives because of suicide. Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm so sorry for your loss. And I appreciate you speaking to this because it's a huge important issue. Thank you. Vice Mayor Wu. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council Member Reynolds. It's not easy to be vulnerable, especially as a public person. And I believe in radical vulnerability, and I appreciate you being able to do that. You know, sometimes for folks out here sitting through a lot of our council meetings listening to the rapid fire reading of all of our ordinances and resolutions. It does sometimes look like what is exactly that we do here as government. And I think we have some young folks here who are very interested in this stuff. And so much of it is just nuts and bolts and dollar signs and how are we doing this and how much is this costing. But on a day like this where we have something like the Crown Act come through, something that I think we can understand very easily. We can understand the impact of it. We heard all this great testimony from folks up here and down there about it. And for me, anything that expresses our values as a city and expresses the fact that we care about folks in this city, especially historically marginalized folks, I think is really, really important. And so I'm very happy and proud to be part of this group that has put this forward. And I'm very proud of my colleagues, council members Lynch, Gray, and Fogle for spearheading this. So I wanted to say that. And then this month is still AAPI Heritage Month, which I'm very still excited about. A week from tomorrow on the 19th of May from 5 to 8. This is normally gallery hop night, and it will be gallery hop night. At Arts Place, if you head down there in the back room, we're going to have an all Asian American art exhibit from all local artists. And we're also going to have a whole bunch of performances from about 630 to 730. We're going to have some dance, some poetry, even a couple of fashion shows and stand up comedy. And also there's going to be a food truck out front with some really great Japanese street food. So come help us celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Lynch. Thank you, Mayor. I would just like to say a few things. First, thank you to our Youth Poet Laureate of Lexington, Kentucky. Keaton, you were absolutely excellent. Thank you for coming tonight with your mom. Thank you all so much. I would also like to acknowledge, I went to a pretty phenomenal event yesterday. We now have a tool library in the city of Lexington. It is housed in the Waypoint Center at the Black Williams Center on Georgetown Road in the beautiful second district. And it is a resource for the whole community. If you have a home improvement project but you don't have the tools to accomplish and fix that project, you can visit the Tool Library on Thursdays from 5 PM to 8 PM. Memberships are pay what you can, so it's very accessible for folks that need those tools to make that home repair, to keep them in their homes so they won't have anybody knocking on their door trying to evict them or get rid of them. So I'm very excited that the Tool Library is going to be housed in the Waypoint Center at the Black and Williams Center. And it's very, very accessible to everyone in our community. So please stop by. If you need a tool, they're looking for folks to donate tools. So if you have something in your garage that you haven't used in years, please go donate it to the tool library. Because there are many, many folks that would love to use it as well. Let's see, thank you as well to my colleagues for supporting me in this effort to have the Crown Act passed. It means a lot to me, and I'm trying not to cry. But it means that you see me and you hear me as a black woman and you support me. And that means so much. And I love you all dearly. Thank you so much. Special thank you to Council Member Gray, Council Member Fogle, Council Member Brown, Vice Mayor Wu, Tiffany Brown. There's a whole host of folks that came around the table. The Law Department, Commissioner Speckert, Ashley, Michael. Y'all just thank you so much. I couldn't have done it without you all, and I'm so excited that we've pushed something awesome forward for the whole community. And then lastly, I will say a happy Mother's Day to the mother figures, the aunties, the play aunties, and the mentors in the community. Because not all of us have biological children, but we have a way of raising a lot of children, even though we haven't had our own. So special Mother's Day to you all, because we see you and hear you as well. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Baxter. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow night at Chillito Park is Food Truck Fridays from 6 to 9. But I also wanted to let everybody know to watch the weather and all of our social media outlets because we might have to cancel. So that's a sad day, but just keep an eye on that. And then finally, I just wanted to say something that's kind of difficult for me. But Mother's Day, I'm not going to do it. Mother's Day is a wonderful day where we get to celebrate and honor the mothers or mother figures in our life. However, this day is not always easy for everybody. And I wanted to recognize that for those of us who have lost our own moms or lost our own children or long to be mothers, that I see you and I feel your pain and I want to celebrate you as well. So happy Mother's Day to whatever that means to you. And I am very thankful to be a mother myself. And I just wanted to make sure that everyone else that has lost or longs for children is thought of on this day as well. So thank you. Thank you. Council Member Fogle. Thank you, Mayor. First of all, one of the other schools other than Bryan Station and Douglas that I participate with is Lexington Lafayette. And Ms. Keaton came as a request from our office. Would you please stand up? She is 15 years old and is the, I hope I can, I'm tongue-tied it, but just like Council Member Lynch said, the poet lauder. So please, I know, can we clap right now? Sure. Okay. Okay. And I know you have testing, so please go and we will be keeping our eye on you. You can catch her on YouTube, and there's so many articles written about her. So please support her, our young youth. I see you, and so thank you very much for being here. The other thing that I wanted to lift is if you will play the video, the young folks out of Louisville who could not make it. We have a clipping of them as they express their Crown Act video, one of them. This is the Young Prodigies. It's every voice that sings To the end of our dream Ring with the harmony of liberty let our rejoicing Ride Yeah, yeah Please meet the sky Let us smudge on till the dream is wide. This is the crowd remix. You're proud of me. My girls, my sis, my plus, my brain, brain, I'm into. I'm not, I'm just, late Short, long, hard and up, baby We rock, I hurt, in different ways We rock, I hurt, in different ways We need, sound me, gonna play Because every time I was mild, I'd run it, run it round You can't look, but do not touch my crown, my crown, my crown Hey, we sit up, sit down, wear your wings Take the crown, it's my culture, it's my crown But you say it's not about you and my business, don't you? Yeah, no, I'm close to the wind, yeah. Touch my heart, you're going to stop. My twist, my pulse, my brain, bring it to my edges, lay in your arms, right in a face. I'm a different way. Thank you. I'm a different way. So these young people are expressing the way that they wear their hair. And they were going to perform right here, but they didn't make it. And so right now, as I conclude, and happy Mother's Day to everyone, as I conclude this presentation, I would like to thank the council for voting and supporting. Please lift your crowns. Why don't we put them on? Thank you for passing the Crown Act. Thank you. Council Member Savigny, where's your crown? Okay, here we go. Oh, I get it. Does it stick? It doesn't stick. It scrapes my head. All right. Thank you all for making me do that. All right. Well, we got some great news in District 10 this coming week at Moondance. Several things. We got the big band and jazz starting on Tuesday the 16th at 7 o'clock. And then next weekend is the barbecue festival, Friday and Saturday. Friday evening and Saturday there will be bands, food, music, booze, you name it. It's all there. And then I also wanted to, as a shout-out to Mother's Day, I'm on the airport board, and the airport is announcing that we are opening this weekend our mother's nursing suite in concourse b. It looks like an awesome facility. I hope never to be in it. But it does look like a great place. And I would encourage all mothers, now that they're traveling in Bluegrass Airport, you have a great, comfortable, and wonderful place to be. Thanks. Thank you. All right, I do not see any more announcements, so that takes us to public comment. We have several people signed up, and when I call your name, if you'll come to the podium, please state your name and your council district, and you'll have three minutes. First is Dottie Bean. Welcome. Thank you, sir. Okay. Council members, my name is Dottie Bean. I am in the 8th District. Yesterday we attended a library board meeting, and we're surprised to find out that several new construction projects are underway in this city that we've not heard of. Now, we also heard that there are geotechnical issues with construction that Ralph Coldiron describes as not as terrifying as we thought. That's a red flag for you guys. Okay, but we also heard that many organizations are now contributing heavily to the library, as they should, and they have a large surplus that soon will be adding to their debt. we would like to see you request a presentation from that board giving a rundown of public versus private money that they are now using. And we have many, many libraries in this city. We'd like to remind you about that. Ranging from a nationally known genealogy library at the Mormon Tabernacle here to the massive W.T. Young library on the U.K. campus. The city should be also keeping its archives up, and we know that it is required to store city documents under the law. We would like to know where is that information going, who is in charge of making sure that it is available when needed. Are we continuing to store official paper documents as well as computer files? Do we have all the backups required by law? Are we preserving our documents in case of a fire or a grid failure? We are seeing a real problem in government. Also, with duplicated services that are being provided privately and funded publicly and are draining our resources available to police, fire, and infrastructure divisions that really are job one of local government. We also suggest a study of how many private agencies we are supporting that have their own marketing sections to raise money for them. And we also would like to know how many projects we're funding for them and what are we getting for our money. Thank you for your attention. Thank you. Next is Ray Sexton, and after Ray is Kennedy Fuqua. Welcome. Good evening. I'm afraid to touch the microphone, but let me see if I raise it up. There we go. I appreciate the opportunity to come tonight. I'm serving as a facilitator and opening act for the next series of speakers, so I'll try to be specific enough to where this makes sense and not too specific to steal thunder. But in December of 2022, I was approached by the leaders and youth of South Elkhorn Christian Church. It's a very good group of kids. They're very socially minded and very interested in the government. And they were kind of coming to us about a project that they were interested in and how to evoke some change. and they actually approached me of Section 25 of the Kentucky Constitution still has some language regarding slavery. And so they kind of approached me to say, what kind of project can we do? And I said, well, to evoke change, obviously that's a state issue and coming to the council on a state issue. And actually, since it's constitutional in the part of the Kentucky Constitution, it requires a vote by the people for a constitutional amendment. But I said, well, that's actually a good learning opportunity because you can approach our board, and what we can do is we can craft a resolution to urge the Kentucky legislature to look at this and propose an amendment. Obviously, we were told this legislative session it wasn't a go because they're amendment-weary right now because of the previous election day. But what we can do is we can craft a resolution and then we can present it to the LFUCG Council and present it to them formally. And also urge you guys to pass a similar resolution advocating for the changing of the language of the Kentucky Constitution. So the next few speakers are going to talk to this issue. And we've already passed the resolution outside and it's going to be emailed to you guys. So the end goal is for you to take a look at our language of our resolution. And we got some time until the next legislative session, but if you take a look at it and encourage the Kentucky legislature that this antiquated language needs to be removed. Because it says slavery and voluntary servitude in the state are forbidden, except as a punishment for a crime. So the language is still in there pertaining to slavery, and it has not been touched in so long. think it's time that this language needs to be looked at and a constitutional amendment be made to change that. So we've got a series of speakers that are going to talk to them. We appreciate their patience tonight. They've been great sports. I warned them that it would probably be a long meeting, but they've been very attentive and very interested about what's going on, and I'll turn it over to them. So thank you. Thank you. Kennedy, you're up next. And then Michael Schwartzentruber will be after Kennedy. Welcome. Hi, my name is Kennedy Fuquay, District 9. I'm 18 years old and I'm a senior at Lafayette High School. I'm here today because slavery is still legal in the state of Kentucky. Section 25 of the Kentucky Constitution states, slavery and involuntary servitude in the state are forbidden except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. Now if you're baffled by this, let me further explain the history. The last time this section was revised was September 28th, 1891, after being ratified on August 3rd, 1891. It's been 132 years since this has been edited. While that might sound crazy, I found it even crazier that since slavery in America was abolished in 1865, Kentucky ratified this section 26 years later. 26 years after United States abolished slavery, Kentucky added this clause. I have a few questions about this. First of all, why would slavery be permitted in Kentucky long after being abolished, and why is it still legal today? Though I'm sure others have tried in the past, why is it taking a group of kids in 2023 to start making a change? Maybe some of you didn't know this was still in the Kentucky State Constitution, and I get that. I didn't know this until last year. That being said, it's important to amend this section even though it's often overlooked. It's all about the what-ifs. Though many might say that no one would use the section for the worse, what if they did? What if nothing ever changes? That sounds like a world I would never want to live in. But that's the thing, we're living in that world right now. It's been 132 years. Years, and there has been no change. So let's go back to the what-ifs. What if this section was amended and and the world started to become a better place. What if others hear about what this group of teenagers are doing at Kentucky and decide to make positive changes in their communities too? Doesn't that sound better? Now I ask you, why? Why would anyone think this clause is still valuable in our Constitution? We believe that this needs to be changed. It needs to be changed, but we can't do it alone. Will you sit back and let this detrimental phrase create potential problems, or do you help us do what's right and fix it? We need your help and your support. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much. Next is Michael Schwartzentruber, and after Michael is Brewer Conley. Welcome. Thank you. I'm Michael Schwartzentruber, District 10, and I serve South Elkhorn Christian Church as senior minister, along with my colleague in ministry, Reverend Holly Fuquay, church moderator Peter Brackney, and outreach leader Barb Ellerbrook. We're here to support the amazing youth of our church who have recognized the injustice of Article 25 of the Kentucky Constitution with its exception clause. And they're doing something about it, advocating to make a long overdue change that has escaped our collective attention and remains more than a symbolic vestige of the past, but an insidious invitation to the future. A future that we can and should do something about. These young people are intelligent, as you'll hear and as you've already heard in Kennedy Fuquay, compassionate, driven to put their faith in a God of limitless love into action to make a difference toward healing the historic brokenness of our community and a witness to a more inclusive, mutually flourishing vision of our shared life. They are catalysts in a needed movement to bring people together and do something for the well-being of all Lexingtonians and all Kentuckians. I'm so proud of them. I believe in them. And I hope you'll listen, learn, and do your part to follow their leadership as I have learned to do. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next is Brewer Conley. And then after Brewer will be Cora Breidegan. Welcome. Brewer Conley, District 9. Hello, my name is Brewer Conley. I'm 15 years old and I go to Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School. I'm here today as one of the South Elkhorn Christian Church youth representatives. Back in June of 2022, some of the high school youth at my church went to Birmingham, Alabama for an anti-racism mission trip. While we were there, we went to multiple African American and Equal Rights Monuments, as well as the Legacy Museum and the Lynching Museum. A few months after we got back, it was brought to our attention that there is still a slavery exception clause in the Kentucky Constitution. After everything that we saw in Birmingham, this broke our hearts and we decided to put our resources together and take action. Although this exception clause is not being used, getting rid of it would still send a huge message. The youth at my church have a goal to get equal rights for everyone and be role models for our future generations. So today we are here working towards our goals and making an impact on today's society. We hope you will stand with us. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next is Cora Breitigan and following Cora is Ralph Seninger. Welcome. Hello, my name is Cora Breitigan from District 10. I'm 15 years old and I go to Lafayette High School. I'm here with the South Elkhorn Group. Our youth group has frequently discussed how we believe that involuntary servitude and slavery should be abolished from our state constitution. Before our youth group started talking about this topic, I was completely unaware that this exception clause was in our state constitution. I was moved to research the history of this clause. I discovered that it permits slavery as a punishment for a crime, linking back to the United States history of convict leasing. After the Civil War, harsh and discriminatory laws targeted African Americans, sending them to prisons. The prisons would then lease these convicts, who were mostly African Americans, to private railways, mines, and large plantations. While states profited, prisoners earned no pay and faced brutal conditions. This isn't something that should have ever been in our Constitution and it certainly shouldn't be here today. Not only is this clause shocking to our generation, but it also reflects poorly on the state of Kentucky as a whole. The act of Kentucky removing this clause may also inspire the 18 other states with this clause to remove it as well. My youth group and I believe that every Kentucky citizen deserves the right to feel secure knowing that this clause is removed. Involuntary servitude in slavery strips the enslaved of their basic human rights. It's heartbreaking knowing that something like this would still exist in today's world, and there's not a single good reason why this clause should exist. As President Franklin Roosevelt once said, the Constitution was not intended to be static, but to be adaptable to changing needs. It is not acceptable to not work to remove this clause because it is too difficult or too long of a process. My youth group and I are committed to doing whatever it takes, and we urge you to do the same. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much. Next is Ralph Seninger and then Gunnar Brackney. Welcome. Thank you. I'm here, I guess, from hearsay about the VRBO being canceled and canceled out for ag and extended ag districts. I'd like to say thank you, council members, for letting me speak. I'm here today to say Lexington is a great city. I've worked and lived here for over 40 years. My trade is plumbing and a hobby of building homes and warehouses here over the years. I know we should always have a difference of opinion about what is good for the city. I think that the VRBO regulation is wrong. As an operator of VRBO, we've had visitors from all over the world and the United States. People love VRBO. I feel it's great that they are seeking an adventure to see the countryside and not a hotel space. Don't take away the right of tourists and operators who are paying taxes and trying to make ends meet. What is the reason for this regulation? The country and farms is safer than the city. Have you ever flown over Lexington on a clear day to see the bird's eye view of Lexington? Taking away short-term rental from Ag and Extended Ag District is cutting out some of the most prestigious properties and homes in Lexington from being visited. As an operator, people talk and have lots of great guests with great reviews. The success of residents in this county should not be burdened by additional fees. This revenue stream may be for many the only way to pay the ever-increasing cost of living in Lexington. The proposal of Section 13-13B Amendment of 13-76 through 13-82 is an enormous amount of extra government and right infringement on all property owners. I have not seen in the news or the paper where there's been problems with operators. Why is this change taking place? More regulation and more cost for code enforcement. The city should be happy with hotel tax revenue from short-term rental generate. On a new note, I learned at business seminars that a company customer is your best customer. We can learn to change. As an old man, I've seen a lot of technology changing. We believe, we live, and I believe, in a government for the people and by the people. Lexington can be the first that I know to have a chance to say yay or nay for all proposed action of council proposal. A simple system that tallies the vote of the citizens by email. Right now, I'm here because of word of mouth about a proposed amendment. I did not receive an email from my council member. I challenge to enlighten their constituents with a simple email to get the vote on matters. As you form a new amendment, we'll have no doubt you will be voting for the opinion of the citizens in your district. I'm closing. Please give views of all people in your rural district this urgent change is affecting. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next is Gunnar Brackney and followed by Don Pratt. Welcome. Hello, my name is Gunnar Brackney from District 9, and I would just like to clarify that I'm with the South Elkhorn group over there. And in regards to the Kentucky State Constitution Exception Clause, I'd like to say that not only does this clause unfairly and unnecessarily abuse the incarcerated, but it also reflects poorly on the progress of our state. Showing such blatant prejudice towards the incarcerated and less fortunate displays a naked attitude of superiority and ignorance in our bureaucracy. One that we need to immediately manage and evaporate. By progressing this message, we hope to make known that said attitude is unacceptable and that we will fight against it to ensure equal opportunity and equal rights for all. Thank you. Thank you very much. Don Pratt? Welcome. Yep. I want to compliment the young people. Certainly smarter than I was back then. And I didn't become active until I was a college student and going to Atlanta to find out about racism and poverty. when Lexington had so much more poverty, and primarily the black community was much smaller and therefore victimized back in that day and time. I want to suggest ending the long reading of the resolutions and ordinances between whatever time you cut off whatever ending public comment. I'm glad you have them if you have to have them, and I wish there were some resolutions that I would think about, including one similar to the crown. Have you all passed something on transgender because our state legislature has gone after young people? Have you passed anything in support of a women's rights amendment because our nation has not granted one and women are discriminated against in terms of clothes, hairdos like crown addressed, expectations. There's not really strong laws about men being more responsible for the childbirth and creating especially creating children raising children and I want to be supportive of the Crown Act and the rights of women the main reason I came back because I was going to leave was done by our high school kids coming up and it reminded me of an my call for the city, including maybe getting the school system and the business leaders of our community to finance a public indoor pool so that we can train kids to be lifeguards, so we have enough lifeguards in our pools and make it cheaper to swim, so that kids can do it year round, so that teams could practice without having to go to the YMCA or University of Kentucky's pools. We don't have one. And Moorhead has one. I've seen one out in the state when I'm delivering luggage. And we are losing another battle, and that's the housing cost. And something reminded me of that. The banks are investing in housing and financing people, buying all these houses and making, driving the prices up. So anything you do for affordable housing is almost ridiculous, because you're competing against the big boys with big money, and they will drown you. And at last, I would like to suggest, in just but in reality, acknowledging the fact that we have atheists and agnostics in our community, and they should do the invocation as well. I think they'll be a little bit shorter. Thank you. Thank you. That takes us to the end of the folks signed up for public comment. We appreciate all of you who have spoken here tonight. And with that, I'll ask for a motion to adjourn. Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you very much. Wow.