Music Welcome, everyone. Welcome, everyone. It is 6 o'clock. Normally, I need an opinion on we normally are not permitted by the fire marshal to have more than the capacity with no one standing. So I need to get someone official who can allow all these folks in here at the same time. Can you please come to the podium and at other times we ask everyone to go outside. And till it's time, we have a few things to do before the science fair. So can you give us some official advice? Yes, ma'am. Battalion Chief Jeff Johnson, Fire Marshal. Yes, thank you. And obviously the main issue is blocking the exits. Is this going to be a presentation at the very front and it will be done quickly? It's after three items. And how long would that take, do you think? We have our roll call, our invocation, and approval of several minutes. Five minutes. Six. Yeah. It depends on our minister. No pressure. I mean, we... If we can do it expeditiously, we'll be okay. Okay. Very good. And then if you can leave the door unblocked, please. All right. Thank you for that. Now I'll go ahead and call the meeting to order. And this is our urban county council meeting of February 15th, 2024. And the first item is to call the roll. Council Member Worley? Yes, ma'am. Vice Mayor Wu? Here. Council Member Fred Brown? Here. Council Member James Brown? Here. Council Member Ellinger? Yes, ma'am. Council Member Elliot Baxter? Yes, ma'am. Council Member Fogle? Here. Councilmember Gray? Present. Councilmember Legree? Here. Councilmember Lynch? Present. Councilmember Minares? Here. Councilmember Plowman? Here. Councilmember Reynolds? Here. Councilmember Sevigny? Here. And Councilmember Sheehan? Here. Thank you. All right, thank you very much. We have a quorum. And at this time, I would like to welcome the right Reverend Mark Van Coovering, who is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, and he will offer our invocation. Welcome. Well, this evening I'm grateful that prayer begins our deliberations, and I want you all to know that on each and every Sunday in every one of our churches, we pray for you. If I might be so bold, you can use our prayers. Not for any failure on your part, but as elected leaders, you have been entrusted with power and are exercised for the common good. And this requires courage, wisdom, and foresight. As the prophet Micah told the leaders of his day, he has told you, O mortal, what is good and what does the Lord require of you. to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, in your word you have given us a vision of that holy city to which the nations of the world bring their glory. Behold and visit, we pray, this our city of Lexington. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life, enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity. down upon these council members who hold office in this city the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice, that in all their works begun, continued, and ended in you, they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Thank you so very much. We appreciate that. Council members, we have minutes from January 18th, council meeting, January 23rd, council, January 30th, state of the city address, and February 1st, council meeting. Motion approved. Thank you. Council member Ellinger moves. Council member Fogel seconds. Are there any questions, corrections, additions? Anything? All right, all those in favor of approving, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Now, we have a pretty exciting night tonight. It's our Kentucky American Water Science Fair night. And as some of you know, we will have many children and students moving in and out. So we'll need to be sure and have a path for them. And then I'd just like to review the council rules for this chamber where we do our business. And the things that we would like you to follow are that we, there's kind of a lot of don'ts, and I'm sorry about that, but no signs, no clapping, no booing, no, you know, making those kinds of noises so that we can get on with our business. And so I appreciate it that all of you follow those guidelines that the council has set. Thank you. All right. Here we go with science fair. All right. Are we ready? I know the parents are ready. And the grandparents. We have a special opportunity this evening to honor the winners of the Kentucky American Water Fayette County Public Schools Science Fair, which is celebrating its 39th anniversary this year. More than 520 public, private, and homeschool students in grades 4 through 12 competed in this year's fair, held on February the 3rd. Regional competition will be held March 2nd for grades 4 through 12 at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School, middle school, and high school winners from that event will go on to the Kentucky Science Engineering Fair, March 22nd through 23rd at Eastern Kentucky University. Pack it in there, kids. Our Kentucky American representatives this evening. Representative is Susan Lancho. Do you want to join me? Senior Manager, External Government Affairs. Welcome and thank you to Kentucky American for sponsoring the science fair every year. Our pleasure. Thank you. And representing Fayette County Public Schools is David Helm, Science Instructional Specialist. Thank you very much. This is a big job, right? Yeah. We have so many winners and proud parents tonight that we're going to break them into three groups. Elementary for grades four and five, middle for grades six through eight, and high school. We have certificates for all the winners, but we didn't have time to hand them all out individually, so parents and children will be able to retrieve your certificates downstairs in the lobby. You'll get one right tonight, okay? So as I have been talking, we have been bringing in fourth and fifth graders, our beginning scientists. These students attend Ashland Elementary. Why don't you raise your hand when I say your school? Thank you. Athens Childsburg Elementary, Brenda Cowan Elementary, Cassidy Elementary, Christ the King School, Clay's Mill, Fayette County Homeschools, Yes, Garden Springs Elementary, Julius Marks Elementary, Lexington Universal Academy, Liberty Elementary, Maxwell Elementary. We're not done yet. Metaphorp, Rise STEM Academy, Rosa Parks. Yes. Oh, wait a minute. Anybody from Rosa Parks here? Scappa? Stonewall? All right, let's give them all a hand. Now, we want to get a picture of the group, and I think what we're going to need to do is a couple of rows of you. Can you kind of squinch together so we can get you? All right, guys, ready? One, two, three. One more. One, two, three. We're now going to let our elementary students and their parents exit the room and we'll be bringing in our middle school students. So if you're elementary, go ahead and this is your time to go through the door. This is a big night. Hi. I believe you forgot the school. I'm so sorry. There's also one person from C.A. from Seton Catholic School. No, no, no, for elementary school. That was my sister. Yeah, yes, yes, Seton Catholic. Okay. I'm so sorry. All right. As people are leaving, we have learned that we had one more elementary school represented, Seton Catholic School. Raise your hand. Yay. Were you in the picture, though? Okay, good. Okay, good. Good. All right. Thank you. I thought they called it middle school so they came in here. No, not yet. We're about to, so don't leave. I'm okay. This is always, you remember, this is a big night. How many nights do you get a good run here? I'm just trying to get a good picture of this. Yes, it might. James Keenum. No, they're not assigned. The pastor left. Thank you, everybody, for your patience. All right, if I could have quiet, please. While our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders are coming in, I want you to know how inspiring it is to see so many creative young people interested in science. These are also our future scientists. So I want to congratulate our middle school science fair winners. We are all very proud of you. These students, and if you can make a couple rows. There you go. Thank you, Susan. So these are our middle school students. And what we're going to do is I will again name the schools represented. And when I call your school name, will you raise your hand, please? So everybody can know who's from what school. All right. Beaumont, Carter G. Woodson Academy, Crawford, Edith J. Hayes, Fayette County Homeschools, Jesse Clark, Lee's Town, Lexington Christian Academy, Lexington Universal Academy, Morton, SCAPA, Seton Catholic, Southern, Tate's Creek, the Lexington School, Winburn. All right, let's give these students a big hand. now we're going to get a photo or I think there are a lot of pop All right, you guys ready? We're coming down. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, three, one, two, three. Yeah. I don't know, I'm going to follow my kids. I guess we follow them out. Follow your kids. Follow the kids. Follow the kids. Follow the kids. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you so much. We welcome. Congratulations. Okay. Could I have it quiet, please? We now are bringing in our Senior High winners. Our Science Fair winners at the high school level are from Paul Lawrence Dunbar and Lexington Catholic this year. Congratulations to all of our high school science fair winners. So Lexington Catholic? Dunbar? All right. See, your council members love you also. So let's give them a big hand. So before we get our photo, I want to congratulate each and every one of you. And thank you again to Kentucky American Water, who sponsor this science fair every year. Thank you to the parents and families and to the educators as well as the students. Okay, okay, I love it. Right here, okay. All right, one, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Here we go. Thank you. everyone. It is always very exciting when we have science fair night. All right. That brings us to second reading of our ordinances. When you're ready, please. Item 1. In ordinance mending certain of the budgets of the leasing fair, mechanic, and government do fillet current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriating and reproving funds. FY 2024, schedule number 35. Item 2. In ordinance In ordinance, submitting the authorized strength by abolishing one classified position of social worker senior, grade 518E, and creating one classified position of social worker grade 516E in the Division of Community and Resident Services, effective upon passage of counsel, item 3. In ordinance, submitting the authorized strength by creating one classified position of human resources manager, grade 527E, in the Division of Human Resources to be located at the Division of Community Corrections, effective upon passage of counsel, item 4. In ordinance, submitting the authorized strength by creating one unclassified position of senior special projects administrator, grade 530E in the office of the chief administrative officer, effective upon passative council, item 5, an ordinance meeting section 1 of the ordinance 134-2023, which adopted a schedule of meetings for the Lexington Fair Urban County Council for calendar year 2024 to change the time of the budget committee of the whole scheduled for May 28th, 2024 at 1 p.m. to May 28th, 2024 at 10 a.m. and to add a budget committee of the whole meeting on May 30th, 2024 at 1 p.m. And item 6, an ordinance according to section 2-31.2, the License Fair Urban County Government Code of Ordinances to Prohibit Discrimination in Housing on the Basis of Lawful Source of Income or Payment, all effective March 1, 2024. Thank you. Thank you very much. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Vice Mayor Wu moved. Council Member Gray seconded. And when you're ready, if you'll take a roll call vote, please. Council Member Worley? Yes, ma'am. Vice Mayor Wu? Yes. Councilmember Fred Brown. Yes on all on first five, no on six. Councilmember James Brown. Yes. Thank you. Councilmember Ellinger. No on six, yes on the rest. Councilmember Elliott Baxter. Councilmember Fogle. Yes. Councilmember Gray. Yes. Yes. Council member Legree? Yes. Council member Lynch? Yes. Council member Minaris? Yes. Council member Plowman? Yes. Council member Reynolds? Yes. Council member Savigny? Yes. And council member Sheehan? Yes. Thank you. Thank you, those all passed. Can you check your record, it said 15 yay. Is that? Oh, you count them individually, don't you? You'll go back and separate. Thank you. And when you're ready, if you'll do first reading of ordinances, please. Item 7, an ordinance meeting section 296 of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government Code of Ordinances to rename the Metropolitan Environmental Improvement Commission of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government to the Environmental Commission of Lexington Fair County, consistent with the current practice amending section 297 of the Code of Ordinances to reduce the number of members to 25 and adding a council member as a non-voting ex-deficio member and amending section 299 of the code of ordinances to add an information officer as an officer of the commission and setting officers term to two years effective upon passage of council. Item 8. In order to amend article 4-8 of the land subdivision regulations of the Lays and Fair Urbain County Government, updating surety requirements for the completion of public improvements as follows. Amending section 4.8 to expressly incorporate the requirements of LFUCG engineering manuals for the completion of public improvements. Amending section 4.8A to provide for pre-final inspection of public improvements for purposes of calculating surety. And amending section 4.8B and 4.8C to update requirements for reductions of surety. And amending section 4.8D to update requirements for renewal of surety. Item 9. each income to an hourly rate of pay, effective the first payroll Monday following the passage of council. Thank you. All right, thank you very much. Are there any walk-ons, council members? How about motions to suspend the rules and give second reading? All right, thank you. Now we're ready for second reading of resolutions. Item 1, a resolution ratifying the permanent classified civil service appointment of Tamar Tompkins, Revenue Compliance Analyst, Grade 5, 18, and 25.352 hourly in the revenue effective January 24, 2024. Item 2, a resolution authorizing payment in the amount of $11,750 to the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust as mitigation for the potential removal of wildlife habitat on the Legacy Business Park Project site and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government to execute any necessary documents related to the payment. Item 3. A resolution authorizing direct the mayor on behalf of our BKG to execute a memorandum of understanding with forces of hope for placement of recovery coaches with community paramedicine program, item 4. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of our BKG to execute an agreement awarding Class B Infrastructure Incentive Grant to Mediocre Creative LLC for a feasibility study for a stormwater quality project at a cost not to exceed $12,500, item 5. A Religious Authorizing Mayor on behalf of the County Government to execute an agreement to awarding Class B Infrastructure Incentive Grant to Bread and Roses LLC for Feasibility Study for a Stormwater Quality Project at the cost not to exceed $31,850. Item 6. A Religious Authorizing and Directing Mayor on behalf of the County Government to execute a partial release of easement releasing a portion of detention easement on the property located at 2350 Norman Lane. Item 7. A Religious Authorizing and Directing Mayor on behalf of the County Government to execute an agreement with the University of Kentucky Research Foundation for the provision of evaluation services for community paramedicine overdose outreach Lexington. C. Pool for Division of Fire and Emergency Services under the Comprehensive Opioid Stimulant and Substance Use Program from the Department of Justice Bureau and Justice Assistance Grant Program at a cost not to exceed $83,619 and further authorizing the mayor to execute any document related to future renewals of such agreements subject to sufficient funds being appropriated in future fiscal years. Item 8, a resolution authorizing a director of the mayor on behalf of urban county government to accept an award of $10,000 from the Jesmond County Fiscal Court for the support of planning activities and operating costs related to the Office of the Lexington Fett Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, MPO, for Jesmond County located in the Division of Planning, the exception which does not authorize the urban county government to the expenditure of funds and authorizing the mayor to execute any necessary agreements related to this grant and authorizing the mayor to transfer out-of-comer funds within the grant budget. Item 9, a resolution authorizing mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute an agreement to a warning class A neighborhood incentive grant to Waterford II, Homeowners Association, Incorporated, for stormwater quality projects that it costs not to see $120,000. And item 10, a resolution authorizing mayor on behalf of our mechanic government to execute a statement of work with Industrial Organization Solutions, Incorporated, I.O. Solutions, for police sergeant and police lieutenant promotional testing cycle under the terms and conditions of the contract for RFP 47-2019 for Lexington Division of Police that it costs not to see $106,065 effective upon passage of council. Thank you very much. Is there a motion to approve? Second. All right, council member Ellinger moved, council member Gray seconded. And when you're ready, if you'll take a roll call vote, please. 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. Council Member Elliot Baxter? Yes ma'am. Council Member Fogle? Yes. Council Member Gray? Yes. Council Member LeGree? Yes. Council Member Lynch? Yes. Council Member Minaris? Yes. Council Member Plumman? Yes. Council Member Reynolds? Yes. Council Member Sevigny? Yes. And Council Member Sheehan? Recuse on seven, yes on the rest. Thank you. All right, thank you very much. Those all pass. And when you're ready, if you'll do first reading of resolutions, please. Item 11. A resolution accepting the bid of thermal service LLC in the amount of $87,555 for West Takement Solid Processing Building Hydronic Heating System for the Division of Water Quality and Authorizing Mayor on behalf of every county government to execute an agreement with thermal service LLC related to the bid. Item 12, a resolution accepting the bid of Swift Roofing of E-Town Incorporated in the amount of $1,139,604 for the government center annex and police headquarters for roof replacement for the Department of General Services and authorizing me on behalf of our mechanic council to execute an agreement with Swift Roofing of E-Town Incorporated related to the bid. Item 13. A resolution ratifying the Department classified civil service appointment of delay hearing customer account specialist in your grade 14 and 20.156 hourly in the division of LexServe effective January 24, 2024. Jesse McKinney equipment operator grade 512 and 21.219 hourly in the division of streets and roads effective January 31, 2024. Katrina James administrative specialist senior grade 518 and 26.561 hourly in the division of grants and special programs effective February 1, 2024. Item 14. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute an agreement with the cabinet of health and family services, department of community based services for participation by authorized staff from the division of aging and disability services as certified application counselors on the Commonwealth of Kentucky self service portal at no cost to the county government. Item 15. A resolution authorizing and direct the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute change order number one to the grand agreement with Ashwood Townhomes of Laredo Incorporated for Stormwater Quality Project decreasing the contract by the sum of $99,860.38 from $99,860.38 to $0.00. Item 16. A resolution authorizing the undirected mayor on behalf of the mechanic government to execute change rule number one to the grand agreement with Beaver Creek Hydrology LLC for stormwater quality project decreasing the contract price by the sum of $127,050 from $127,050 to $0. Item 17. A resolution authorizing the undirected mayor on behalf of the mechanic government to execute change rule number one to the grand agreement with Lakeshore Village Incorporated for stormwater quality project decreasing the contract by the sum of $212,930 from $212,932 to $0. Item 18, a religion authorizing director of the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute change winner number one to the consultant services agreement with Johnson Early Architects for professional design and construction administration services for the Black and Williams Community Center gymnasium building improvement project to increasing the contract price by the sum of $20,000 from $76,000 to $96,000. Item 19, a resolution authorizing director mayor on behalf of Rebecca County Government to execute change owner number two to the agreement with Omni Commercial LLC for the Black and Williams Neighborhood Center gymnasium renovation project increasing the contract price by $153,232.49 and raising the total contract price from $1,325,201.62 to $1,478,434.11 to be paid for with funds awarded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ARPA and adding 113 calendar days to the construction schedule. Item 20. A resolution authorizing the merger between Summit Biosciences Incorporated, Peace Merger, Sub Incorporated, and Kindiva Drug Delivery LP for the purposes of the Jobs Fund Agreement between the Lixin-Ferturibon County Government and Summit Biosciences Incorporated and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute any necessary documents related to the merger authorization. Item 21. A resolution authorizing directing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute a first renewal of the contract with Hazen and Soil PSC for sanitary sewer remedial measures program management consulting services for the division of water quality at a cost not to exceed $900,000. Item 22. A resolution authorizing and directing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute supplemental agreement number one to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for acceptance of $356,000 in additional federal funds in the surface transportation program for the design phase of the Liberty Road Improvement Project, the acceptance of which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of $89,000 as a local match and authorizing the mayor to transfer out of the country and refund within the grant budget for these grants. Item 23. A resolution authorizing and directing the mayor on behalf of our county government to execute an agreement with Palmer Engineer for Design Engineering Services for the Wilson Downing Intersection Improvement Project for the Division of Engineering at a cost not to exceed $172,187, item 24. A resolution authorizing and directing the mayor on behalf of our county government to execute an engineering services agreement with Webster Environmental Associates for Sewer Odor Control, Master Planning and Management Services for the Division of Water Quality at a cost for the first phase of the services not to exceed $550,000, item 25. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the urban county government to execute an agreement with the Smart Communications Holding LLC for the installation and operation of the inmate communication system at the Division of Community Corrections at no cost to the urban county government. Item 26. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the urban county government to execute an agreement to warrant a Class B infrastructure incentive grant to the University of Kentucky Research Foundation for a stormwater quality project at the cost of $316,126.70. $0.20. Item 27. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of every county government to execute and submit an application for an encroachment permit to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to allow for the closure of Oliver Lewis Way for Street Fest at no cost to the urban county government. Item 28. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of every county government to execute a statement of work with Industrial Organization Solution Incorporated I.O. Solution for testing applicants with the Division of Fire and Emergency Services for recruit firefighter positions at a cost not to exceed $3,000 as I give upon passage of council. Item 29. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of Herbicone and Government to execute a professional services agreement awarded pursuant to RFP number 2, 2024, with Solar Energy Solutions, LLC, for installation of a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system in the Division of Parks and Recreation Maintenance Building at Masterson Station at a cost of $62,853, item 30. A resolution authorizing and direct to mayor on behalf of our county government to execute an engineering services agreement with Strain Associates Incorporated for design of the Liberty Road Improvement Project at the cost of $1,244,333 item 31. A resolution authorizing and direct to mayor on behalf of our county government to execute and submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application and to accept this grant if awarded which grant funds are in the amount of $1 million in federal funds under the 2023 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program to host a paramedic training course to exhibit which obligates our county government to the expenditure $100,000 as a local match and authorizing the mayor to transfer out of cover funds with the grant budget. Item 32. A resolution authorizing director of mayor on behalf of urban county government to execute and submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application and to accept this grant if awarded which grant funds are in the amount of $500,000 in federal funds under the 2023 assistance to firefighter grant program to add preventative cancer and cardiac screenings to incumbent physicals. The exception which obligates to urban county government to the expenditure of $50,000 as a local match and authorizing the mayor to transfer out of cover funds with the grant in the grant budget. Item 33. A resolution authorizing and directing on behalf of our County Government to execute and submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application and to accept this grant and afford which grant funds are in the amount of $500,000 in federal funds under the 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to add physical protective equipment, PPE, and replacement of two brush trucks, the exception which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of $50,000 of local matching. Authorizing Mayor to transfer undercoming funds within the grant budget. Item 34. A resolution authorizing Mayor on behalf of county government to execute a purchase of service agreement with Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation Incorporated for various services related to the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame, including the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in 2024 and 2025. It costs $25,000. Thank you. Thank you very much. Are there any walk-ons, Council? How about motions to suspend the rules and give second reading? Council Member Worley. Thank you, Mayor. I move to suspend the rules and give second reading to resolution number 12. This is acceptance of the bid to replace the roof in the Government Center Annex and Police Headquarters. All right, Council Member Ellinger seconds. Are there any questions? All right, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, thank you. Council Member Reynolds. Thank you, Mayor. I have two. The first is 24. And this is authorizing an agreement with Webster Environmental Associates for the Sewer Odor Control Master Planning. All right, do I hear a second? Vice Mayor Wu seconds, are there any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. And the second one is item 28, and this is to execute a statement of work with industrial organizational solutions for testing applicants with the Division of Fire and Emergency Services for recruit fighter positions, firefighter positions. Thank you. Is there a second? Council Member Plowman seconds. Any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Councilmember Lynch. Thank You mayor on behalf of the administration I move to suspend the rules and give a second rings to item 18 regarding the Black and Williams Community Center gymnasium improvements. Thank you is there a second? Second. Councilmember Fogle seconds. Any questions? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right that passes. Mayor I have one more. On behalf of the administration I move to suspend the rules and give a second ring to item 19 regarding the Black and Williams Community Center Genese and Renovation Project. Thank you. Is there a second? Council Member Fogel seconds. Any questions about that one? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Any others? Council. Okay, so we have 12, 18, 19, 24, and 28. All right. When you're ready, if you'll give those second reading, please. Item 12. A resolution submitted a bid of Swift Roofing of E-Town Incorporated in the amount of $1,139,640 for the Government Center Annex and Police Headquarters Roof Replacement for the Division of General Services and Authorizing Mayor on behalf of every county government to execute an agreement with Swift Roofing of E-Town Incorporated related to the bid. Item 18. A resolution authorizing a director of mayor on behalf of the county government to execute change number one to the consultant services agreement with Johnson Early Architects for professional design and construction administration services for the Black Williams Community Center Gymnasium Building Improvements Project increasing the contract price by the sum of $20,000 from $76,000 to $96,000. Item 18, or 19, excuse me. A resolution authorizing director of mayor on behalf of the county government to execute We changed the number two to the agreement with Omni Commercial LLC for the Black and Williams Neighborhood Center gymnasium renovation project. Increasing the contract price by $153,232.49 and raising the total contract price from $1,325,201.62 to $1,478,434.11 to be paid with funds awarded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, ARPA, and adding 113 calendar days to the construction schedule. Item 24. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute an engineering services agreement with Webster Environmental Associates for sewer odor control master planning and management services for the division of water quality at a cost of the first phase of the services not to exceed $550,000. And item 28, a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute a statement of work with industrial organization solutions incorporated I.O. solutions for testing applicants with the division of fire and emergency services for recruit fire fighter positions at a cost not to see three thousand dollars effective upon passage of council thank you thank you very much is there a motion to approve thank you council member fogel moved council member sheehan seconded um when you're ready if you'll take a roll call vote please yes ma'am 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 council member elliott baxter council member fogel yes council member gray yes council member lagree yes council member lynch yes council member minares council member plowman yes council member reynolds yes council member Cevigni? Yes. And Council Member Sheehan? Yes. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Those all pass. Council members, next up is communications from the mayor and I'll entertain a motion to approve. Second. Thank you. Vice Mayor moves and Council Member Fogle seconds. Are there any questions? All those in favor of approving say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right that motion passes. next I'll entertain a motion to approve the price contracts please council member gray moves council member Plumman seconds are there any questions all those in favor please say aye is anyone opposed all right that motion passes council the next section is communications from the mayor for your information only and we do not have any fire or police disciplines and so now it is time for announcements and please log in i'm going to go ahead and since council member savigny has is not able to log in and has requested to speak i'm going to ask him to go first Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to recognize that we did something that I've worked on today for quite a while. And I wanted to thank Councilmember Shayla Lynch, who stepped up to co-sponsor that with me. You were willing to kind of step out, and I really, really appreciated that. I want to thank the colleagues who had some great, we had great philosophical discussions about it. And even though we didn't always agree, it was really nice to be able to have good, open, and honest communication. I wanted to thank the Kentucky tenants who I think are outside maybe cheering a little bit on their own. I want to thank them for bringing the item forward, their hard work with it, and their patience because the process is the process and it always doesn't move as fast as we'd like. And I really want to thank the constituents, residents, the landlords, the organizations that all took the time to weigh in, to meet, to interact, and to speak about it. Because that's the only way that we can truly make change is if you take the time to actually talk and have conversations. So I appreciate all that. That's all I have Mayor, thank you so much. Thank you. Now, Councilmember Fogle is signed up next, but she has an agreement to let Councilmember Ellinger go next. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to take a point of personal privilege and stand up if you don't mind. And bear with me please. Do you need a gavel? Oh. Wait. There is a legendary announcement today that was made. And Lexington has a new baseball team, and they are called the Lexington Legends. And they have a new mascot called Mighty Lex. So welcome back, Lexington Legends. All right. Can I be back? I'm called back. Donna has some stuff. Thank you, Barry. Okay, thank you for that. Council Member Fogle. Thank you, Mayor. So for those who don't know and for first district and rest of Lexington, Sunday marks 50 years of women's basketball at the University of Kentucky. And so if you'll look on the screen, I will have the honor to walk out on the floor with Ryan Howard and Valerie Steele and Patty Jo Hadges. That was back in the day. You see those short shorts? That's what we used to wear. So anyway, we've got some photos up on the screen. That was the induction of the Hall of Fame. And I wanted to invite everyone out on Sunday. Look, I had all my teeth and everything. But anyway, so anyway, I am really proud of that moment. Yes, Catholic girl. So some of the photos that I wanted to show is based on a dream for all of our constituents who thinks that they cannot get out of the hood or they have been told that they don't count and they may be taller than all the boys in the school. I'm just doing some personal comments. But I am showing folks in the first district as well as across Lexington. I usually don't toot my horn or say anything about me, but we did win the SEC championship in 1982. And so I think that's enough photos for now. Just remember, Sunday, please come down to Rupp Arena and support 50 years of UK women's basketball. Now we can clap on that, can't we? No clapping. We can't. Are you wearing your ring? I am. Okay. Oh, and I would like to, let me, I got a couple more seconds. This ring right here was given to me by Mary Gordon. We had our, it was 40 years, it took us 40 years to receive this ring. And so Mary Gordon was the one that showed up. She was, oh, she was awesome. when she came down to, and I don't know why I'm standing up, I'm just saluting the fact that. During COVID. Yes, during COVID. It was during COVID and all the women showed up and we were on UK's campus and we didn't even know that we were going to get these rings. And we came through Title IX. So I would like to say that the University of Kentucky gave us these rings. I would like to also say the SEC tournament gave us these rings, but that's not the truth. It took one of our players, Valerie Steele, reached out to our fans, and they bought these rings. And Mary Gordon, we were honored that she had a proclamation for the University of Kentucky and presented us with these rings. So you don't have to kiss it or anything, but if you want to see it at any time, it'll be displayed somewhere. I don't always worry. So thank you all. I did drop it, though. Thank you. I believe you'll correct me if I'm wrong that Valerie still holds the record for points scored men or women. Yes, she is. She's the all time, she took Dan Insull down, but you know Dan Insull is great. But she does hold the scoring record without the three point play. Yep, very good. All right, Council Member Lynch, can you top that? I don't know if I can, Mayor, but I'm going to try. First, I want to give my heart healthy tip. I've been encouraging everyone in Lexington to get heart healthy this month, and it was my honor to work with our fire department to encourage everyone to get compression-only CPR trained. If you are not compression-only CPR trained, please visit one of our local fire stations. There are 24 around the city and they will be so glad to help you, your family, your friends, your group to get trained so that you can be a part of saving lives here in the city. It's so important. As a personal trainer, I'm ready to act at any moment and when I'm in the gym, if someone's in distress or need help, we all need to be ready to do that at any time, especially in our homes. So please visit your local fire station and get compression only trained. It's very, very easy and our firefighters are great teachers in that training. So please visit your fire station and get trained. And then my second announcement is to my district two neighbors specifically. On February 24th, I will be doing Shayla in the second and McConnell's Trace Clubhouse from 11 AM to 1 PM, that is a Saturday. Please come out, I will have resources, information, and I want to hear your questions and your concerns. Or just come and hang out, because we're going to have a good time. So I hope to see you there on February 24th. And then I will finish with saying a big thank you to my colleagues, and especially the Council Member Dave Savigni, or Dave Savicki, as sometimes he's called. Because it's been a true honor and pleasure to take this journey for the Source of Income ordinance with you. It's so important to me, and I was glad to join you in this effort. And it's been a fun, wild ride, but it was always worth it. So thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Sheehan. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to make a quick announcement about a neighborhood meeting. This is going to be on Monday, March 4th at 630. This meeting is about the publics that is going in on Romney Road, which is a project that the neighbors in that area have been waiting for for a while. So if you want to come and learn about the project, you can come on that night. The meeting is going to be at Christ the King Cathedral. Again, that's Monday, March 4th at 630. Thank you. Thank you. Vice Mayor Wu. Thank you, Mayor. I want to also thank my colleagues, Council Members, Savigny and Lynch for bringing this important piece of legislation to us. It's not going to solve all the problems overnight for tenants, but it's a step in the right direction. And thank you to my colleagues who supported it. I also really do want to thank the Kentucky tenants for not only bringing it to us, but for being just really, really tenacious and bulldog like and staying with it. And what I've honestly really enjoyed kind of watching is an activist organization sort of figuring out how to navigate and collaborate and partner with us to actually get things done. And I think that's been a very positive learning experience for all of us. So I really do appreciate that. And we're not done yet. We still have work to do. Thank you. Thank you. That brings us to public comment. And we have quite a large number of people who will speak. The way this works, if you're not familiar, is when I call your name, you'll come to the podium, and you'll need to restate your name and your council district for the record. And then you'll have three minutes. And if some of you are receiving time yielded from others, I'll confirm that the others are in the chamber who are yielding their time. So first up will be Monty Price followed by Kareem Hassan. Welcome. My name is Carol Monty Price, Jr. I live at 650 Tower Plaza, 11th District. I am currently a certified clinical medical assistant CCMA student student at Emergency Medical Training Professionals Incorporated. And have been taking a phlebotomy class and now taking a key A-E-K-G class. Also, I'm a state resident aide on the registry. I feel there needs to be better public transportation for citizens and senior citizens of Lexington. Also, the community of Lexington needs access to public transportation 24-7 and less wait time so that people can get to their destinations on time. Moreover, our citizens of Lexington who ride public transportation need to feel safer at the bus stops while waiting to get on the bus. I have noticed an increase of activity while waiting for the bus to arrive and that crime is on the rise in our communities and it is not safe to wait at the bus stops for riders sometimes. This being said, public transportation for the disabled and senior citizens is not meeting my expectations and has been situations where my ride has been affected and causing problems towards my attendance at school and the verge of having to withdraw from class and affecting my grades in class. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. All right, now two folks have yielded their time to Kareem Hassan. Is Layla Abutaha here? And you want your three minutes to go to him. Okay, what about Najwa Abutaha? And you also want to yield your time? Okay, Kareem Hassan, you'll have nine minutes. And then following Kareem is Saria Santiago. Welcome. Hello. Kareem Hassan, District 7. I want to start off by saying I am not and will not be apologetic for the words that come out of my mouth. I am depressed. I am exhausted for the embarrassing lack of leadership and ethics my city council has shown me. For over four months, we have witnessed a Palestinian genocide on live. For over four months, we have been hurting. For over four months, we have been educating you on the atrocities of a sovereign state that has committed genocide on innocent Palestinian civilians with U.S. military aid. Mind you, a sovereign state that our own U.S. government spends more money, our money, on than its own civilians and citizens. For over four months, you have had the opportunity to educate yourself on the apartheid state of Israel and its crimes. For over four months, we have presented endless stories and evidence that Palestinian civilians are and were always the target. 28,181 civilians murdered. Thousands under the rubble, still unaccounted for. 67,763 civilians injured, amputated without anesthesia. For over four months, we have presented this dire concern to your attention, and for over four months, the majority of this council has ignored us. We have spoken calmly, we have spoken factually, and we have spoken consistently. Unfortunately, our voices are not louder than the pennies clinking in your pocket. Allow me to re-educate you about your constituents. According to Dwellix, a study used using the U.S. Census Bureau and the annual American Community Survey shows 51.2% of Lexingtonians are Christian, 0.5% of Lexingtonians are Jewish, and 0.2% of Lexingtonians are Muslim. All three of these religious communities are represented also in Palestine. Which is why you can imagine this is something that we urge your attention on. And it is a disgrace for the behavior and the lack of urgency this council has presented to its community. Christians and Muslims are hurting as they watch the blessed birthplace of the beloved Jesus Christ in Palestine being demolished with discrimination. They are hurting as they watch their Christian and Muslim brethren targeted and murdered simply due to them being in the way of a fascist, racist, and terrorist state called Israel. Our Jewish constituents, our Jewish brothers and sisters are hurting as they see an unruly, disgusting, and discriminatory political party called Zionism rob them of their peaceful and beautiful faith of Judaism and to use it as a scapegoat for their act of genocide. I do not know if you know your constituents, as I have seen a number of council members amounting to less than the fingers on one of my hands reach out to their hurting communities. While we have 15 plus the mayor sitting here, instead I have seen council members meet with extremist individuals with the have ulterior motives instead of the masses. These actions are what divide the community. We stand as one, yet our leaders push to divide us and pin us against each other. A tactic well known as divide and conquer. This allows elitists to selfishly put their own interests above the majority. The majority of Lexington does not want this genocide to continue. The majority of Lexington does not want this city to support fascist governments. The majority of Lexington wants peace and more importantly it wants justice. The majority of Lexington wants its city government to focus on them, not the elitist who line your pockets. The majority of Lexington wants their city council to represent and reflect their morals and their values. This is a city of family. A city where we rank top 10 for multiple years in a row for the best place to raise your family. Why in the world would you think that we are not constantly torn with the images we see of families being ripped apart? It is idiotic to believe we would watch and just stay quiet. We want peace. We want a ceasefire. It is the time to step up, act, and be our leaders is past due. way past due. Now you must work double time in order to recover. You need to educate yourself on the issue that is aching your community, the community you serve. If I hear another excuse of it's too complicated or to understand or I don't have enough information, it will only solidify the community's belief of your lack of credibility. It is your duty. If it's too much, then why are you in a position of influence? Why do we have to listen to those that are too lazy to educate not only themselves but their community on issues that yes we are very much involved with? As individuals you have your own right to choose whether you want to be a shepherd or the sheep. However, as a leader it is your duty to be the shepherd. that responsibility came with a job that all of you have diligently campaigned for to get to the seat that you are in now. As a leader, it is your duty to question and find answers. It is your duty to represent truth, civil rights, and peace. It is your duty to protect Lexington from propaganda reaching our homes and the minds of our children. It is your duty to listen, learn, understand, and educate. It is your duty to ensure that Lexington's community is provided factual, credible information with resources to back it. This is something that we were taught in grade school. So why should it be any different in adulthood? Your duty is to be a role model. When will you start acting like the ones that we elected you to be? Thank you. Thank you. Now, is Emma Anderson here? Emma Anderson? Is Emma Anderson here? Okay, so have you ceded your three minutes to Saria Santiago? Okay. And is Lauren Jackson here? Have you seated your three minutes? All right. Saria, you'll have nine minutes. Welcome. Thank you. Hello, my name is Saria Santiago. I'm of District 3. So honestly, I don't have a whole lot to say today. I've been here before. I've spoken several times. And I feel like every single one of us who has been here has spoken our hearts out to try and get you all to see us. Now some of y'all sit there on your phones or you laugh and you smirk. Just know we see that. And history will remember that. Digital front print. It's disappointing but not surprising because this is what has been done to all activists. And specifically black activists since it's Black History Month and I'm Afro-Latina. Make no mistake that if this was during the Civil Rights era and Martin Luther King Jr. was standing up here and talking to you, many of you would react the same way. Make no mistake that if this was during the abolitionist movement and activists were up here talking to you about why black people should be free and classified as people, y'all will do the same things you're doing now. Being complicit in horror is not new. It's not unique. you are doing what your ancestors did. But I'll digress because truly I'm here to give an update. Remember two weeks ago at the last council meeting when I talked about Hind? She was the six-year-old Palestinian girl who was trapped in a car with six of her family members. Her family had contacted the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and begged for help. And I gave you all the scripts and then on it, I wrote how on the phone call you could hear bullets hitting the car and the line went blank. She's on the handout that I gave you all. And when PRCS called back, Hind answered and all six of her family members were dead. And the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, with the approval of the IOF, the Israeli Occupation Forces, went for an extraction. They sent out a team of two, Yusuf and Ahmed, and they went to go and find Hind. And when I spoke to you all last week, Hind and the team hadn't been found, and there was no communication. and a few days ago the ambulance that was sent out was found and the photos on that paper there are what that ambulance looked like there's nothing left, it's almost unrecognizable when I first saw it I didn't know it was an ambulance Hind sat in her car alone for two weeks and watched her family's corpses decompose and then she was martyred Hind, Yusuf, Amir Ahmed, all martyred. The targeting of ambulances is illegal under international law. And it's very obvious that the point is cruelty. But what makes this even worse is the fact that the Palestinian Red Crescent Society gave Israeli officials their coordinates, got approval so that they would not be harmed, and then they decimated that ambulance and they targeted that six-year-old little girl. six-year-old little girl. And then, as I was still recovering from Hinn's story, the story of Hidra Hasuna came out. She was 12 years old and stuck in Rafa with her family. She was recorded laughing and doing her best despite everything going on to be happy. She had a cute tie-dye sweater from H&M on, a sweater you could have owned, I could have owned, a sweater any of your children could have owned. And then 12 hours after she was recorded laughing and smiling, her body was found hanging from a wall, just like that photo if you turned over that handout. A bomb hit her and her family and it killed every one of them. Now the photo is censored for you because her leg has been blown off completely. And you should be lucky I censored it because when I saw it, it was unblurred and it was uncensored. And their stories aren't unique despite how absolutely gruesome they are. Because while everyone was distracted by the Super Bowl, Israel started its ground invasion of Rafa. And within the hour, 100 people had been killed. Rafa is 25 square miles with a current population of 1.5 million. For comparison, because I couldn't even conceptualize that, Lexington is 285.5 square miles with a population of 321,793. Lexington with 2.5 million people packed in here and that is how packed Tarafa is. I need y'all to understand the severity of the situation because they're running out of time and you are twiddling your thumbs. I'm asking you not to listen to any Zionist propaganda. I say this because when I was younger and I didn't pay a lot of attention, I allowed that propaganda to make me view Muslims and Palestinians as the aggressor. And this is objectively false and ahistorical. The knowledge is there. It's just up to you to go and look for it. Thankfully, I never acted on my implicit biases. I was young. But even allowing them to fester is harmful. So do the research yourself. Because my experience is certainly not unique. Realistically, it's a probably pretty standard experience. The entire point of propaganda is that you don't realize its effect on you. And you, especially you and your positions of power, are not shielded from propaganda. So be unique and unlearn it. And in the process, please see the intersectionality between all oppressed peoples of the world, especially during Black History Month, a month where we literally look at the horrific history of black folks in our country and around the world, and specifically how the world responded by calling our activist terrorists, by doing everything they could to keep my ancestors enslaved or second-class citizens or, more recently, incarcerated. I am, with all of this in mind, pleading with you to pass a resolution for a ceasefire. Educate yourself. Don't fall victim to propaganda. And do better. Be the people that I want you guys to be. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, Alyssa Rigney. Okay, you're next up. And then after that will be Sophia Shalosh. Welcome. Hello, a little low. Hi, my name is Alyssa Rigney and I'm a constituent of District 12. And today, like my friends, I would like to recognize the lack of action this council has taken towards calling for a ceasefire thus far. But instead of speaking for my three minutes, I would like to hold a moment of silence for all of our martyrs, for children like Hind and Reem, the soul of our souls, for Donia and for all of the other children who have been killed thus far. Glory to them and to the other 25,000 plus martyrs. So please take this moment to reflect, to pray, send well wishes to the people of Palestine. . . Thank you. And if you aren't aware, this is the silence that Palestinians are affording. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Sophia Shalosh, and I'll ask if Katrin Flores is here. And are you yielding your time? All right. Thank you. You'll have six minutes. Welcome. My name is Sophia Shalosh, and I'm from District 4. I've heard all of those stories they've shared, and it's like I'm hearing them for the first time. I wish I could say I was happy to be back. I'm not though. Because being back means that my city still hasn't passed a ceasefire resolution. It means that most council members still haven't even said the word Palestine. instead decided that it was enough to sign a letter mentioning Arabs in this community. Erasing the identity of a people that the world is desperately trying to erase. Palestine, Palestine, Palestine, Palestinians, I am Palestinian. We are here, we exist in this community. I debated whether I even wanted to say something tonight, but decided I needed to share my continued disappointment in this council for the lack of courage, the lack of humanity. I came because of children like Hind and Sidra who aren't here to speak anymore after their brutal murders by the state of Israel. Over 70 cities have passed a ceasefire resolution. Some of those cities have fewer Palestinian constituents than Lexington. But they decided that a U.S.-funded genocide is their business and they wanted to do something about it. I have no sad stories to share with you today. I believe you have heard enough of them. The last time I spoke to you all was in early December and about 16,000 Palestinians had been killed. number has since doubled with over 30,000 Palestinians being killed. I don't know if you know this, but the number they calculate, which is currently sitting at just over 28,000, is bodies that have been brought to hospitals and recorded. There are thousands under the rubble. Those numbers aren't counted. Over 14,000 children, just like mine, just like yours, just like your loved ones, have been killed. This genocide continues because people, including you, have decided you're exempt from speaking out against this genocide. Because they feel okay living their lives unchanged while our tax dollars fund the slaughter of innocent families. So many of you attended MLK breakfast just last month. You talked about the ideals of peace and unity. These ideals of peace and unity are not being reflected in what comes across as a callous indifference to Palestinian suffering, not just in Palestine, but to the Palestinians in your community. Suffering that we are funding. people love to quote MLK, I'm going to choose one that I really like. There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must make it because conscience tells him it is right. I genuinely wonder every day how you all sleep at night as you sit there and you hear us week after week after week and you still can't say Palestine. You can't say ceasefire, but you can't even say Palestine. By staying silent, by staying neutral, you are taking a side. Some of you may truly not care about Palestinians. But I know that some of you do. And I know that you know what's happening is a genocide. That it's indefensible. It takes courage to say, I messed up. I should have said something sooner, but I'm saying it now. I hope you find that courage. I hope you find your humanity. And I hope you pass a ceasefire resolution. Thank you. Next up is Saadia Akhtar. Are you here? All right. Welcome. You'll have three minutes. My name is Saadia Akhtar, and I'm from District 3. I'm here for one purpose only, to stand witness. We have come here week after week, month after month, only to be left with silence, indifference, and disdain. We have shared the horrifying statistics coming out of Gaza, shared the most heart-wrenching stories, and have now shown you pictures of the war crimes occurring, still occurring. If at this point, you are still not moved, it is clear to us that Palestinian lives, Muslim lives, brown lives, just don't matter to you. I came here with no false hopes that my words will change your minds or move your hearts. I came here to make sure that you all have no excuse for your actions or lack thereof. I came here to make sure that you cannot claim ignorance when you are held accountable by the ultimate provider of justice, by God. This world and our life are temporary. Do you honestly believe that all of these tragedies will just go unnoticed, that the rich and powerful can just kill, kill, kill, and they will never face justice? Do you really think that death is the end? You can roll your eyes, zone out, stare at a random place on the wall, pick whatever you want, pretend to ruffle through your papers, play on your phone, fantasize about what you're going to be doing after this, all to get through what I'm sure to you all is a very tiresome three hours. You can think of me as crazy for talking about the afterlife, mysticism, and eschatology, but I know that I'm not crazy. I know that death isn't the end, and I'm here to tell you that when God holds you accountable for your inaction, indifference, and bigotry, we will all stand witness. Every single one of us in this room. I have come to multiple meetings in the past. I have stayed the entire time in the overflow area. Why do you think that is? Why do you think so many of us come each time? We come in large numbers each and every time so that when God holds you accountable and you try to lie and squirm your way out of it, we'll be there. All of us in this room, those in the overflow area, those watching from home, every single one of us will be a witness to your indifference and disdain. And when you are resurrected after you die, as we all will be, don't act surprised and don't be shocked. You won't be able to tell God, I didn't know. Because today on February 15th, 2024, I've told you that true accountability by our Lord, by God, is inevitable, and all of us will be standing witness to it. Thank you. Next up is Chris Oliphant, followed by Viroqua Moore. Welcome. You'll have three minutes. From District 10, could speak with everything everyone else has said, tell you about the atrocities, tell you about that. But I want to say something I think might make you guys matter more because it's obvious death doesn't matter to you. I know until the day I die, the first thing I look up when I vote for any single person is whether they called for a ceasefire. That goes all the way up to the president, to every single city council member here. And the thing that I find so ridiculous, I expect it from a few of you, expect it from you from District 10. I've seen what you do with police and what you are. But Dan and Linda, you ran as progressives. Excuse me, I'm so sorry. Council rules do not allow you to point out individual people. All right, well, people who ran as progressives, I would like to know why the only thing that matters is our votes. As soon as any progressive is elected into any position, it immediately goes out the window. They take the tax dollars. They take everything. They take the money from the ACJ. All of it. None of it matters, and it's just a vote. And one thing I love about this country is I do have the right to always let it be known in public. And anytime I say any of anyone in public, I will let that any known. So just that your children, all you know, you're silent. We're not asking you to support any one group. We're asking for a cessation of violence. I don't understand how you can watch bombs tearing families apart, exploding apartment buildings, all while Israel claims, oh, Hamas is in tunnels. Then why are you blowing up schools, mosques, hospitals? If there was a school shooter in any one of these counties, would it be acceptable for the military to drop a bomb on it? Why do Muslim lives not matter in this country? I'm 28 years old, and I watched us devastate the Middle East for 20 years, and all under the excuse of safety, defense. What is defense in killing children? And you can't even just say, oh, it's the mistakes of bombs, it wasn't dropped quickly. there has been three-year-olds just this week shot and killed by Israeli snipers. If you can look through a sniper scope and shoot a little child, God, I hope when God gets to you, you get the same. And all I know is I'm sitting here shaking, and every time I come here, half the time you guys can't even look us in the eyes. Other times you're playing on your phones. At least pretend, at least pretend to have humanity, because I know every single person who's been coming here for months is getting torn apart inside for what we see. And I know you want to, oh, the politicians have to act neutral, impartial, whatever it may be. But at least show respect. And that's all people are asking for. And just please educate yourself because it's been going on for 80 years and no accountability. Please. Thank you. Next is Viroqua Moore followed by Andrea Zong. Viroqua. Are you here? We'll wait just a second to see if...Viroqua? All right, welcome. You'll have three minutes and you'll be followed by Andrea Zong. Welcome. Thank you. I'm Verqua Moore and I represent District 7. If I smile and thank you for the vote idea where the Kentucky tenants and the people at least the community. But in the district 7 I do have some concerns because in district 7 on the lease the streets of Hedgewood Osage and Peachtree. There's a lot of high crime. There's a lot of poverty there's a lot of sewer problems and people are not addressing them. In the last month. I lived on Hedgewood Court. I got robbed and the people took everything that I had. And I believe that the reason I took it is because they're poverty stricken. They're poverty stricken and not able to get the things that they need. So they broke into my home and showed everything that I had. But I feel like that if they had more mentoring. More and mentors to come in and help with bullying as well. There's a lot of bullying there or had better conditions to live in. Because for a whole year I lived in my house without any heat. The water pressure was low because of sewer problems and different things like that. And sometimes people live in situations like that because they have no other place to go. And I feel like that if they had some other opportunities and that they would do better there. And I would too. So I'm asking that you all take a look at the woodhill area, especially Hedgewood, Peachtree and Osage. And I'm asking the Justin code enforcement to those areas to look around the properties because those properties are eyesores to the community. I've taken pictures of several of the properties and they didn't have fences. They have the sunk tanks in the backyard a mound deep in the ground. They have problems to where the sewers have run out their back door. They have problems where their children are running free past 11 to 12 o'clock at night. Some children are running around hungry. Children are running around without shoes and socks. So I feel like this is a deep problem. And I set up today because I'm not going to worry about the material things that they check for me. But I'm going to worry about the moral value of Woodhill because somebody needs to step in and help this community to change it around. We were told, I spoke to the Homeowner Association, and we were told by this lady that over two to three people get evicted out of 290 units per week, and she thought it was funny. There's nothing funny about that to me, and I feel like that that was very discriminatory because she even said some racial slurs. But I'm asking that you all step in and help us to get this community together. Thank you. Thank you very much. next is Andrea Zong followed by Adrian Williams welcome hey y'all I live in the fifth district thank you so much for passing a ban on source of income discrimination today I'm so grateful to all the council members who had a role in this passing we met a lot with y'all and I'm remembering some council members who talked about how they wouldn't have been able to buy a house in their district that they had to buy it today, but then they passed an amendment to the balance versus income discrimination that will now make it harder for low-income homebuyers to buy a home. And this council member is our realtor, and so I just want to make sure we remember the day that our realtor sold out low-income homebuyers. I also remember talking to a council member who told me about a fight in his family's restaurant. when a black person came to it and a white constituent was angry, who also voted no for this, who continued to support segregation. And so I really appreciate y'all passing this and we should not have had to hold y'all's hand the whole way for y'all to do something for tenants. But thank you. I will make a huge difference in the lives of tenants and I'm so grateful again for all the work and the things that I'm sure y'all had to do behind the scenes for this to pass. I also want to tell y'all a story. When I was young, I've lost a lot of houses, but when I was young, there was a home that my great-granddad built. And one day we couldn't afford it anymore during the recession, and I ended up having to go to school with a daughter of the family who moved in. with me into our house that we couldn't keep anymore. And it made me so upset that someone would be living in my home, that someone's family would be tearing down all the trees I played under as a kid. And I never forgot what it was like to have to go to school every day and see people who lived in a house that I thought I'd have forever. And so, and this is a small piece of the enormity of what Palestinians deal with, But when I learned that in Palestine, Israelis just move into the houses of Palestinians, that they just will take a house, live in it, that Palestinians aren't allowed to repair their homes or haven't been before Israel destroyed all of those homes. When I learned those things, it really resonated with me. And it reminded me so much of the way entire neighborhoods in here in this city and in other cities are destroyed. For real estate developers, entire black neighborhoods are evicted. And it made me wonder, what can I do here or wherever I'm living to actually make a difference for what's happening in Palestine? Because I know that everything about what happens here is related to that. Free Palestine. Thank you very much. From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free. Thank you. Next up is Adrienne Williams, followed by Nikita Paramal. Welcome. Hi, I'm Adrienne Williams. I am a tenant in the 5th District. I'm asking Lexington Fayette City Council to pass a resolution for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. This should not have been a question that people should still be asking. this should not have been a question that we ever had to ask you for. Palestinians in Gaza, many of whom are women and children, as you know, are dying every day. Those that have survived might never be the same because of the horrors that they've suffered in this senseless genocide. You all are stewards of a democratic government that purports to value the sanctity of life, of happiness, of a childhood lived in peace and safety, which so many Palestinian children now will never see, you have a responsibility to speak the truth of the situation, that a permanent ceasefire is needed in Gaza, and a divestment from the Israeli government and the IDF is past due. Thank you. Thank you very much. Nikita Paramal, welcome. Hi there. My name is Nikita Paramal. I'm a renter in District 3. I'm making comment today to urge Council to pass a resolution for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to acknowledge the humanity of your Palestinian constituents. I know you've already heard a lot of facts today. I'm not going to spend time on that. I think we all know that what is happening in Palestine right now is a genocide and a humanitarian crisis. My parents are Indian immigrants who moved to the United States in the 1980s. Less than 40 years before she immigrated here, my mother's family were refugees displaced from what is now Pakistan by the partition of India and Pakistan inflicted upon that region by the British. My grandfather was 13 years old when my family lost their home and the utensil shop that they ran. And all of the place that they considered their beloved home. This all happened in 1947, which was one year before the 1948 Nakba, which marks the massive and violent ethnic cleansing and displacement of Palestinians from their land. The Nakba, although distinct and devastating, shares a very deep root with that of my family's displacement, which is the long-lasting and harrowing effects of colonialism and of the British carving up land that was never theirs to give. I think about what happened to my family often when I think about what is happening right now in Gaza. I think about the generational trauma that still exists in my family and in me as a result of my grandparents displacement. Palestinians deserve a life of peace, prosperity, and a home that is fully their own and from which they cannot be driven. The inhumanity of separating people from their home, from their beloved land, the inhumanity of bombing children, of creating mass destruction, of rendering entire neighborhoods in uninhabitable, of an apartheid regime, of forced famine, and of denying entire families the human right to safety is not something I can fully grasp, even as much of it rolls out live in front of our eyes on our phones. But what I do know is that we cannot look away. We live in the country in the world that is most deeply complicit in this genocide through its relentless military funding of the Israeli regime and every single one of us in Lexington and in every single city and town in Kentucky has a responsibility to take a stand against these long-standing atrocities. We cannot look back at this moment in history and say we did nothing. I deeply appreciate your vote today to pass a ban of source of income discrimination, and I urge you now to use your power to call for a ceasefire resolution. Thank you very much. Now, is Sydney Jackson in the house? Are you giving your time to Allah Hassan? All right. Is Pasha Combs here? Okay. And are you yielding your time to Allah? All right, Allah Hassan is next, and you'll have nine minutes. Welcome. As-salamu alaykum. May peace be upon all of you. O Lord, open for me my chest. Ease my task for me. Loosen the knot from my tongue so they may understand my speech. I'm not a public speaker, but I'm speaking here for you today in public. My name is Alaa Hassan and I'm from District 12. After being Muslim, the most proudest fact I have about myself is that I'm Palestinian. I'm Palestinian. All day today, I've been holding it in. For the last four months, I've been holding in my tears, crying in private. For the last 75 years, my family has been holding in their tears, putting on a brave face because Palestinians are resilient. The definition of a Palestinian is to be resilient. It is in our blood. It is in our DNA. I know you guys are tired. I am too. I don't want to be here. I'm sure you guys don't want to be either. You probably have kids that you need to put to sleep. You probably missed dinner. So did we. And yet we're here for a bigger cause than ourselves. If you have kids and you have dinner waiting for you at home and you have a home and you have a roof over your head and heat, say alhamdulillah. Praise be to God. Thank God for what you have. The Palestinians do not have that. My Imam, the leader of my masjid where I go to pray, reminded us of a fact that we have a responsibility to speak up for Palestinians. It's not a privilege, it's a responsibility and one that we shoulder heavily. As a Palestinian, it is my responsibility to carry on and speak up against their oppression. Today is February 15. Today is the first official day of practice, of spring practice. And again, I am here skipping half of my practice to speak to you all. One of the Congress members have spoken to one of my friends and have said that they are noticing a lack of men present at these city council meetings. If you look around, a lot of people here are women, young and old, but women mostly. And a lot of them are not Palestinian. And let me tell you why that is. Israel has a chokehold on Palestinians in Palestine and also the Palestinians in the Palestinian diaspora. in the Palestinian diaspora are scared to speak on Palestine because seeing their social medias, seeing their internet activity, seeing them in a video that even they didn't post but seeing their faces, they could be barred from ever going to Palestine again. And that's if they can get in there in the first place, which a lot of them have a hard time doing. When I go to Palestine, I have to enter through the gate, the Jordanian-Palestinian gate. And that is up in the air, whether I'll get in that day. When I went in 2022, we got there so early, and Israel just decided to close the border just because they felt like it. And so everybody waiting to get into Palestine was not allowed to, and they had to spend the night in Jordan. The difficulty with which it is to just exist in Palestine or to visit Palestine as a Palestinian is ridiculous. And it's all in place because of Israel and the horrendous military and the horrendous occupation. I'm shaking. And my heart rate, my watch told me earlier while I was sitting there that my heart rate shot up to 120 and higher and I had no activity I was just sitting there. My resting heart rate has increased by at least 15 beats per minute when I'm resting since the since October 7th and everything with the Palestinians happening. I've had to get a night guard for my teeth because I've started grinding my teeth so hard. I'm 22 years old and I should not be this stressed watching my people die on screens. I'm so stressed beyond words watching it happen. Imagine if I lived there. Imagine the people living there. Alyssa, my friend, put the sound of the drones and said this is their silence and And that broke me, and I haven't been able to stop crying since. Because it's so true, and we get to forget that here in our privileged little bubble. We get to forget that, but we shouldn't. Israel has a chokehold on Palestinians in the Palestinian diaspora and in Palestine in general. We are not allowed to do anything to speak up for Palestine. I've already accepted my fate in the fact that I will probably never be allowed to enter Palestine again because they have me on video talking about Palestine and advocating for Palestine. I know, I just know I'm probably never going to get to go back. A lot of men, specifically, don't have that luxury. Their parents live there. Their siblings live there. Their nieces and nephews live there. and they have to be able to go see them again. Or else what's the point of life if you can't see your family and be with them? My father is the same way. That's why he won't speak to you all. He wants to see his mother again. I, on the other hand, have accepted the fact that if I never see my family again, face to face, with my feet on Palestinian land, it will be okay as long as they are liberated. My grandfather, may God rest his soul, died in November, November 25th. We haven't been able to go see him. And at this rate, I don't think I'm ever going to get to see his grave. My dad won't speak to you because he wants to see his father's grave. It is not fair that you ask us to bring our Palestinian men here. It is not fair that you ask us to speak up instead of doing your own research. We are scared. We are scared that we will never see our families again. And that is something we have to live with. Where else do you have to fear speaking up for your country? And knowing that if you do, you won't be able to come back. I have a lot more to say, but time is running short. I will say for my black, indigenous, people of color on city council, you guys understand what it means to have lived through oppression. Your ancestors understand what it means to have lived through oppression. You should understand that this is wrong and morally you should stand up against it. My white counterparts here on city council, you need to understand that your ancestors have subjected us to colonialism. And colonialism started Zionism. Because white people don't want Jewish people in their land either. So, make reparations. Call for a ceasefire. Demand a damn ceasefire now. Rabbi Litvin, District 3. Good evening. My name is Rabbi Litvin. I'm an emissary of the Lubavitcher, the foremost Jewish leader of the modern era. I also serve as rabbi at Chabad at the Bluegrass and at the Chabad at UK Jewish Student Center. Will you lift your microphone, please? Thank you. 6-1, my fault. I serve as the rabbi at the Chabad Jewish Student Center at the University of Kentucky, as well as chairman of the Kentucky Jewish Council. I'm also the senior rabbi or the longest serving rabbi in Lexington right now. I write tonight to address the public comment campaign now in its fourth week. The demand that the city of Lexington called for a ceasefire in Israel's war against the genocidal Hamas terrorist group that began following the atrocities of October 7th. The demand ignores the rape and slaughter of the October 7th attacks and the more than 100 hostages, including eight Americans that are still being held in Gaza, like Kfir Bibas, who was kidnapped at nine months old. Accompanied by fabricated accusations and calls for further violence against Jewish community, both in their homeland in Israel and around the world, including here in Lexington, These demands ignore two crucial facts. I say this and I hope it doesn't hurt any of the council members' feelings, but the Israeli government is not holding out to hear what Lexington, Kentucky has to say before planning their next operation. This is not a substantive program, project, but rather performative one. At a time when the council has real issues to deal with, as we heard earlier tonight, issues of homelessness, of economy, including nine shootings here in Lexington and two homicides this year alone. Secondly, calling for a ceasefire is not necessary. A ceasefire has been offered and on the table since October 7th, the only preconditions being the return of the hostages who have been kidnapped and the disarmament and surrender of the Hamas terrorist group. There was a tremendous amount of anti-Semitic lies that were espoused here today, and I won't respond to all of them, but the fact remains unquestionable. A ceasefire resolution would not affect the war in Gaza. that would only serve to cause further damage to our community here in Lexington. I take issue with those who said that the city government and its members have not spoken out on this issue. The city had the moral clarity to condemn the attacks on October 7th, and the mayor brought, can I say the mayor? The mayor brought together leaders both from the pro-Israel community and the pro-Hamas community to ensure the conflict there does not bring the violence here. This effort, accompanied hypocritically by calls to globalize the Intifada and for further violence against Jews, does the exact opposite. The Council is right to reject these efforts and to focus on Lexington. Calling for violence against Jews, as we have seen at anti-Semitic rallies here in town and anti-Semitic town halls here in town, will have no effect on the situation in Gaza, but it will have grave effects on all communities here in Lexington. I thank you all for your time. I'm Yisrael Chai. A Palestinian, I am not Hamas. Will someone please remove these folks from who this is not permitted in the council. You may not be in here with that kind of behavior. We have been respectful and listened to every single person who spoke. And everyone deserves the exact same respect, no matter who they are. or what they believe or what they say. And most of you have respected that, and I appreciate it very much. Thank you. And I appreciate all of you who came to speak tonight. That was our final speaker. So that brings us to adjournment. Thank you. Do I have a second? All those in favor say aye. We are adjourned. Thank you for coming. We don't represent Jewish people. We'll be right back.