# Urban County Council - March 21, 2024 > Auto-transcribed civic record · March 21, 2024 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/6075 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/6075?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2024-03-21 - **Last revised**: March 21, 2024 - **Length**: 13,370 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 March 21, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed two agenda items, including an informational presentation on the 50th Anniversary/Council Reunion and consideration of an ordinance amending Civil Service authorized strength. The council took two votes during the session and heard from three members of the public during the comment period. The ordinance regarding Civil Service authorized strength was approved by the council. ## Attendance The following members were present at the meeting on March 21, 2024: • Fred Brown • James Brown • Ellinger • Baxter • Fogle • Gray • LeGris • Lynch • Monarrez • Plomin • Reynolds • Sevigny • Sheehan • Worley • Vice Mayor Wu No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting. All fifteen members were in attendance. ## Votes and Decisions The council conducted two roll call votes during the March 21, 2024 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously. **Ordinance 0196-24** [timestamp: 00:00] Council member Worley motioned to approve an ordinance amending the Civil Service authorized strength by creating one Classified Civil Service Position of Public Service Supervisor. The motion was seconded by Ellinger. The ordinance passed with a unanimous vote of 15-0-0. Voting in favor: Fred Brown, James Brown, Ellinger, Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, and Vice Mayor Wu. **Resolution 0176-24** [timestamp: 00:00] Worley also motioned to approve a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute Change Order No. 1 to the Grant Agreement with Lakes Edge Condominium Association, Inc. Ellinger seconded this motion as well. The resolution passed unanimously with a 15-0-0 vote. The same fifteen council members voted in favor: Fred Brown, James Brown, Ellinger, Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, and Vice Mayor Wu. Both votes demonstrated complete council consensus, with no members voting against either measure and no abstentions recorded. The unanimous approval of both the civil service position creation and the grant agreement change order reflects the council's unified support for these administrative and community development initiatives. ## Budget and Financial Actions The meeting addressed two significant financial items totaling over $1.1 million in expenditures and contract amendments. **Equipment Purchase** The council approved Resolution 0193-24 authorizing the purchase of a new baler for the Material Recovery Facility from BE Equipment Inc. for $889,456.33. This equipment purchase represents a substantial investment in the city's waste management infrastructure. **Health Services Contract Amendment** Resolution 0184-24 was approved, amending the Health Services Agreement with CHS TX, Inc. The amendment involves $281,369.68 and modifies the existing contract terms with the healthcare service provider. Both resolutions were presented as part of the meeting's financial agenda, with the combined financial impact totaling $1,170,826.01 across equipment acquisition and service contract modifications. ## Public Comment Three community members addressed the council during the public comment period on March 21, 2024. **Henry Jackson** spoke about climate change concerns, urging the council to pause USB expansion plans until a comprehensive climate change vulnerability assessment could be conducted [timestamp: 00:00]. Jackson emphasized the importance of understanding potential climate impacts before proceeding with infrastructure expansion. **Judith Humble** also addressed climate change issues, taking a different approach by expressing gratitude for the council's existing actions on climate change initiatives [timestamp: 00:00]. Humble presented a book to the council members, stating it was intended to inspire further action on environmental issues. **Sophia Shalosh** raised concerns about a ceasefire resolution, criticizing the council for failing to pass such a measure [timestamp: 00:00]. Shalosh also highlighted what she described as disparate treatment of speakers during public comment periods, suggesting inconsistencies in how different community members were being handled during the meetings. The public comments covered two main areas of concern: climate change policy and international affairs. Two speakers focused on environmental issues, though with different perspectives - one calling for more caution in development plans and another acknowledging progress while encouraging continued action. The third speaker addressed foreign policy matters and procedural fairness in council meetings. ## Appointments The council made two appointments to city boards and commissions during the meeting. **Downtown Lexington Management District Board of Directors** • Beverly Fortune was appointed to serve on the Downtown Lexington Management District Board of Directors **Human Rights Commission** • Nakia Coffman was appointed to serve on the Human Rights Commission Both appointments were approved by the council during the meeting proceedings. ## Contested Items During the March 21, 2024 meeting, one primary contested item emerged from community input regarding the council's handling of a ceasefire resolution. **Ceasefire Resolution** Community members voiced strong dissatisfaction with the council's inaction on passing a ceasefire resolution. The disagreement centered on the council's failure to take a formal position on what appears to be an ongoing conflict situation through the adoption of a resolution calling for a ceasefire. The nature of the opposition was characterized as community-driven, with residents expressing frustration over the council's lack of action on this matter. Community members appeared to be advocating for the council to take a more active stance by formally adopting a ceasefire resolution, while the council had not moved forward with such action. The specific details of which conflict the proposed ceasefire resolution would address, the number of community members who spoke on this issue, and the council's response or explanation for their inaction were not detailed in the available meeting information. Additionally, no outcome or resolution to this disagreement was documented, suggesting the matter may remain unresolved following this meeting. This contested item highlights a disconnect between community expectations for council action on broader geopolitical issues and the council's approach to such matters, though the full context and reasoning from both sides would require review of the complete meeting proceedings. ## 50th Anniversary / Council Reunion [timestamp: 00:00] The council held a special celebration recognizing the 50th anniversary of the merged government, with former mayors and council members in attendance for a reunion event. This agenda item (0163-24) served as a ceremonial presentation to commemorate this significant milestone in the city's governmental history. Mayor Linda Gorton served as the key speaker for this commemorative presentation. The event brought together past and present city leadership to mark five decades since the government merger that shaped the current municipal structure. This was an informational item that provided an opportunity for the council and community to reflect on the city's governmental evolution over the past 50 years. The presence of former mayors and council members offered a unique perspective on the changes and continuity in local governance since the merger took place. The reunion format allowed for recognition of the contributions made by previous elected officials and provided context for understanding how the merged government has developed over the past half-century. This type of commemorative event serves both to honor past service and to educate current residents about their city's governmental history. As a presentation item, no formal action was required from the council, and the outcome was purely informational and ceremonial in nature. ## Ordinance amending Civil Service authorized strength [timestamp: 00:00] The council considered Ordinance 0196-24, which creates a new Classified Civil Service Position of Public Service Supervisor. This ordinance amends the city's authorized civil service strength by adding this supervisory role to the classified employee structure. Key speakers during the discussion included Worley and Ellinger, who addressed the council regarding the proposed position creation. The ordinance was approved by the council, establishing the new Public Service Supervisor position within the city's civil service framework. This addition expands the authorized strength of classified positions and creates a supervisory role within the public service department structure. --- ## Decisions - **Ordinance 0196-24** — passed (15-0): An ordinance amending the Civil Service authorized strength by creating one Classified Civil Service Position of Public Service Supervisor. - **Resolution 0176-24** — passed (15-0): A resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute Change Order No. 1 to the Grant Agreement with Lakes Edge Condominium Association, Inc. --- ## Full transcript Thank you. I don't know. Thank you. It comes with a lot of equipment. Thank you again, Ben. Thank you. Well, with that, it's six o'clock, so I'll go ahead and call to order our urban county council meeting of March 21st, 2024. And I'll ask our clerk to call the roll. Councilmember Fred Brown. Am I first? I'm here. Thank you. Councilmember James Brown. Here. Councilmember Ellinger. Yes, ma'am. Councilmember Elliott Baxter. Yes, ma'am. Councilmember Fogle. Yes. Councilmember Gray. Here. Councilmember Legree. Yes. Councilmember Lynch. Present. Councilmember Minaris. Yes. Councilmember Plowman. Here. Councilmember Reynolds. Here. Councilmember Sevigny. The 10th is in the house. Councilmember Sheehan? Here. Councilmember Worley? Yes, ma'am. And Vice Mayor Wu? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. We have a quorum. And at this time, I'll ask Councilmember Kathy Plumman if she will offer our invocation. Thank you, Mayor. I will need to stay seated so I can use this microphone. Let's bow our heads. God, we come before you with gratitude. We thank you for being a God of love who is with us in this very room. We thank you for making each of us in this room every person we meet, every citizen of this city, and every city in your image with dignity and infinite worth. We thank you for the calling you have given every one of us to be good stewards of your creation, to love our neighbors as ourselves. We pray for wisdom, for strength, for courage to do what is right and good for all citizens. May we put the interest of others above our own. May we act with love for the common good. May we be good neighbors, recognizing your image in every person here. We thank you for our mayor, our council, all of our city employees, all of our city employees who work to this place, Lexington County, Kentucky, that we call home. such a wonderful city. And especially we want to thank our former mayors and council members with us this evening for creating and growing a strong foundation in whose footsteps we have been fortunate to follow. In the name of Jesus, we pray and are thankful. And we also would be thankful if we win this basketball game this next hour. Thank you. Amen. So at this time, at this time we're going to continue the celebration of our 50th anniversary of our merger for our city and county. Well, this has been a very exciting day for our city. And tonight, the Urban County Council and I are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our merged government. And that is the Lexington Fayette Urban County government. the 19th merged government in the United States, which began operating in 1974. We are joined by several former mayors and former council members who have helped make our city what it is today. We welcome all of them to tonight's meeting. I want to recognize former Mayor Scotty Basler for being here, former mayor Jim Amato for being with us, and former mayor Teresa Isaac. Thank you very much. It's now my pleasure to read this proclamation, and after the proclamation, we'll ask the current council members to do what they're really good at doing, gather for a photo, and then I would ask all former council members and former mayors to fill in, to be in a big group picture. Okay? Whereas in 1972, the residents of the city of Lexington, Kentucky, and Fayette County, Kentucky, voted to approve a new city charter and become a merged government with over 70 percent of the voters supporting merger. It's pretty good. And whereas the merged government known as the Lexington Fayette Urban County government began operating in January 1974 50 years ago. and whereas merger was the result of almost four years of planning by a joint merger commission appointed by the city and the county governments and whereas Lexington's government remains the only completely merged government in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and one of the few merged governments in the country And whereas merger has helped Lexington prevent costly duplication of services and promoted efficient, nonpartisan local government. and whereas because of strong leadership in the 1970s, the residents of Lexington have enjoyed 50 years of local government that has helped build a well-managed, innovative, welcoming, and inclusive city where residents enjoy a high quality of living and a low cost of living. now therefore i linda gorton mayor of lexington do hereby declare 2024 a year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the lexington fayette urban county government congratulations to all Thank you. Song members, come on to the mayor. Come to the mayor. Bill, get in the back. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. . . It's great to see you. My dad was a fan. You've got things to take care of. We appreciate you. I always appreciate you. Good to see you. How fun was that? All right. I hope everybody feels that our merged government has been honored in a good way. Every 50 years at least. All right, now it is time for us to get down to business. So it's time for a second reading of ordinances. Yes, ma'am. Item number one, an ordinance amending civil service authorized by creating one classified civil service position of public service supervisor grade 517 in the division of environmental services effective upon passage of council. Item two, an ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government to affiliate current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriating reappropriating funds FY 2024, schedule number 37. Item three, an ordinance of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government authorizing the issuance of its various purpose general obligation bond series 2024A in one or more sub series. An aggregate principal amount of 38 million 60,000 in which may be increased by an amount up to 10% or decreased by an unlimited amount approving a form of series 2024 A bonds. Authorizing designated officers to execute and deliver the series 2024 A bonds. Authorizing and directing the filing of notice with the state local debt officer, providing that the payment and security of the series 2024 A bonds. Maintaining a sinking fund, creating a bond payment fund for the series 2024 A bonds. Authorizing acceptance of the bids of the bond purchaser of the series 2024 A bonds and repealing inconsistent ordinances in item four. An ordinance of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government authorizing the issuance of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government various purpose general obligation refunding bonds, series 2024 B, in one or more sub series in an aggregate principle amount of $7,720,000, which may be increased or decreased by an amount up to 10% for the purpose of refunding all of the outstanding principal amount of and urban county government general obligation bond various purpose general obligation refunding bond series 2014 a approving a form of bond authorizing designated officers to execute and deliver the bonds providing the payment and security of the bonds creating a bond payment fund and escrow funds maintaining and the heretofore established thinking fund authorizing a certificate of award for the acceptance of the bids of the bond purchaser for the purchase of the series 24 bonds authorizing an escrow trust agreement and repealing and consistent ordinances Thank you. Thank you. Second. Councilmember Worley moved approval. Thank you. Councilmember Ellinger seconded and when you're ready if you'll take a roll vote please. Councilmember Fred Brown. Yes. Councilmember James Brown. Yes. Councilmember Ellinger. Yes ma'am. Councilmember Elliot Baxter. Councilmember Fogle? Yes. Councilmember Gray? Yes. Councilmember Legree? Yes. Councilmember Lynch? Yes. Councilmember Minaris? Yes. Councilmember Plowman? Yes. Councilmember Reynolds? Yes. Councilmember Sevigny? Yes. Councilmember Sheehan? Yes. Councilmember Worley? Yes, ma'am. Vice Mayor Wu? Yes. Thank you. Thank you, those all passed. We'll have first reading of ordinances and I believe we're going to have a pause before number eight. Item five, an ordinance changing the zone from a light industrial I1 zone to a downtown frame business B2A zone for 1.15 net, 0.82 gross acres for property located at 1610 Winchester Road, UCD, Midland, LLC, Council District 3. Item six, an ordinance changing the zone from a light industrial I1 zone to a neighborhood business b1 zone for 0.1265 net 0.0573 gross acres for property located at 469 and 471 jefferson street pizza pios llc council district one item seven in order spending certain of the budgets of lexington for urban county government to flank current requirements for financing the amount of 225 thousand dollars to provide funds for council capital projects in the divisions of parks and recreation and appropriating reproving funds at schedule number 39. thank you very much at this At this time, Councilmember Menorres has an amendment. Thank you, Mayor. On behalf of the administration, I move that ordinance number eight on the docket under first reading of ordinances related to budget amendment schedule 0038 be amended to include two budget amendments related to two Kentucky Cleaner Water American Rescue Fund awards from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. So moved. Thank you. Councilmember Legree seconded. Are there any questions, council members? All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. Thank you if you'll give that first reading. Okay. Item eight, an ordinance of any certain of the budgets of the Lake San Francisco, urban county government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriating reporting funds FY 2024, Schedule number 38 as amended. Now are there any walk-ons, council members? How about suspensions to give second reading? Any of those? All right. We're ready then for second reading of resolutions. Item one, a resolution authorizing and directly mayor on behalf of the county government to execute a change order number one to the grant agreement with Lakes Edge Condominium Association Incorporated for the quality incentive grant project decreasing the contract price by the sum of $1,679 from $12,000 to $10,321. Item 2. A resolution authorizing directly on behalf of the government to execute change order number one to the grant agreement with Friends of Wolf for an Incorporated for a quality incentive grant project decreasing the contract by the sum of $5,818.08 from $29,385 to $23,566.92. Item 3. A resolution authorizing directly on behalf of the government to execute change number one to the grand agreement with friends of wool for an incorporated first term water quality incentive grant project decreasing the contract by the sum of $10,087.97 from $32,184 to $22,096.03 item four. A resolution authorizing directly on behalf of Herbic County government to execute change number one to the grand agreement with bluegrass green source incorporated first term water quality incentive grant project decreasing the contract by the sum of $4,604.70 from $35,000 to $30,359.30 item five. A resolution authorizing and directing me on behalf of every county government executed third amendment to the extension to the existing health services agreement with chstx incorporated dba yes care successor by merger to the rights and obligations of horizon llc increasing the contract price by the sum of 281 369.68 from 5 1778 306.96 to 6 059 676.64 in fy 2024. item six a resolution designated the speed limit on valley road as 35 miles per hour and authorizing direct the mayor directing the division of traffic engineering to install proper and appropriate signs in accordance with this designation item seven a resolution designated designating the speed limit on crawley lane as 35 miles per hour and authorizing directing the division of traffic engineering to install proper and appropriate signs in accordance with with this designation item eight a resolution authorizing directly may on behalf of the county government to execute amendment number five to the tiger grant with the u.s department of transportation which will modify the budget for the town branch commons project and moves remaining funds from the option phase to the base phase pending federal approval item 9 a resolution authorizing death of mayor on behalf of the mechanic to execute an agreement and accept a grant award of 300 000 dollars from the recycling partnership incorporated for for the department of environmental quality and public works division waste management in order to purchase recycling equipment for the outreach activities the extent of which does not advocate the urban government to the expenditure funds and authorizing marriage to transfer funds within the grand budget item 10. a resolution authorizing mayor on behalf of the mechanic to amend resolution number 158 2021 which established priority areas for the community-based initiative program operated as part of the extended social resource ESR program to add an additional priority area mental health at no cost their mechanic government item 11 a resolution accepting a bit of be equipment incorporated in the amount of 889 thousand four hundred fifty six dollars and thirty two cents for a new bailer for the material recovery since their facility for the division of waste management and authorizing the mayor on behavior mechanic of the execute an agreement with be equipment incorporated related to the bid item 12 a resolution ratifying the permanent classified civil service appointments of one with Jenkins engineering technician principal grade 519 and 20.322 hourly in the division of engineering effective march 13 20 24 terence tickner skills trade worker grade 5 15 and 21 797 hourly in the streets and roads effective february 7 2024 krissy mullen staff assistant senior grade 5 11 and 18.876 hourly in the division of police effective february 1 2024 emily fay public information officer grade 518 and 24.22 hourly in the division of emergency management effective january 24 20 24 claude lewis public service worker great february and 18.739 hourly in the division of facilities and fleet management effective February 21, 2024 and ratifying the permanent sworn appointments of Scott Eveleigh Police Sergeant grade 315 and 41.300 hourly the Division of Police effective January 17, 2024. Evan Northcutt Police Sergeant grade 315 and 41.300 hourly and the Division of Police effective January 17, 2024 and 13. A resolution authorizing directly on behalf of the mechanic government to execute change of number one to the agreement with North Lexington Holdings 2 LLC for stormwater quality incentive grant project decreasing the contract by the sum of $48,255 from $48,255 to $0. Item 14, a resolution authorizing the division of police to purchase maintenance and support from the Farrow 3D crime scene scanner from Farrow Technologies, Inc., sole source provider, and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Farrow Technologies, Inc., related to the procurement of these services at a cost estimated not to exceed $2,360. Item 15, a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the beginning of the governor to execute an agreement awarding Class B education incentive grant to Fayette County Public Schools for stormwater quality project at the cost of the seat thirty nine thousand nine hundred dollars and sixteen it was not as the man behind me again to get an agreement or cost the infrastructure incentive grant to part in lex acquisitions llc for stormwater quality project at the cost of receipt one hundred eight six thousand nine hundred eighty dollars and sixty three cents item seventeen a resolution of the lexan fairer than the government authorizing the advertisement of forbids and the distribution of preliminary official statement for the purpose purchase for the purchase of the principal amount of its one various purpose general obligations bond series 20 24 a and an aggregate principal amount of 38 38 million 60,000 which amount may be increased by an amount up to 10% or decreased by an unlimited amount and two various purpose general obligation refunding months here's 20 24 B and an aggregate principal amount of 7 million 720,000 which may be increased or decreased by an amount up to 10% item 18 a resolution authorizing with a man behalf of beginning to execute purchase a service agreement with friends over for run incorporated for services related to the Wolf Run watershed water quality basins and update project for the division of environmental services at the cost not to exceed $9,600 item 19. A resolution authorizing on behalf of the mechanic government to execute test security agreement with Ergon Ergon metrics incorporated for testing applicants applying for the community correction sergeant permission process at the cost of not to exceed $5,160 item 20. A resolution authorizing on behalf of the mechanic government to execute and submit a grant application to Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet seeking an award of $99,038 in federal funds from the 2022 Project safe neighborhood grant which shall be used for the purchase of computer hardware and database software to provide any additional information request in a connection with this application and do they accept this grant if the application is approved the exception which does not obligate the urban county government to the expenditure funds and authorizing there to transfer out of reference in the grant budget for these grants. I'm 21. A resolution and authorizing may on behalf of every county government to execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky Energy and Environment and Cabinet Department of Environmental Protection to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application to accept this grant if awarded, which grant funds are on the amount of $110,000. In Commonwealth of Kentucky funds for the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works to fit into waste management to support a one-day household hazardous waste recycling event, the exception which all begins to every county government to the expenditure of $27,500 as a local match and authorizing may as you transfer out of cover funds within the grant budget. 22. A resolution authorizing directly on behalf of the county government to execute an engineering services agreement awarded pursuant to RFP number one 2024 with Tetra Tech Incorporated for the development of the comprehensive climate action plan for the Lexington Fair Urban County county metropolitan statistical area for the division of environmental services at a cost not to see $505,000 down 23. A resolution authorizing directly on behalf of the county government to execute an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the acceptance of 426 648 dollars in state reimbursable funds fd04 for the innovation drive and georgetown road improvement project the accepted which obligates the urban government to the expenditure of 200 000 of the local match with such local match subject to reimbursement by commerce lexington incorporated and authorizing marriage to transfer outcumber funds within the grant budget and item 24 a resolution authorizing the division of police to purchase trimble x7 crime scene scanner t10 tablet control panel and forensic suite software from sealer geospatial a sole source provider and authorizing mayor on behalf of our mechanic to execute any necessary agreement with sealer geospatial related to the procurement at across north to state $995 thank you all right we have a motion to approve and when you're ready if you'll take a second a roll call vote please councilmember Fred Brown yes councilmember James Brown councilmember Ellinger councilmember Elliot Baxter councilmember Fogle yes councilmember Gray yes councilmember Legree yes councilmember Lynch yes councilmember Naris thank you councilmember Plowman council councilmember Reynolds yes councilmember Sevigny yes councilmember Sheehan yes councilmember Worley and vice mayor Bo thank you thank you those all passed and now we're ready for for first reading of resolutions. Item 25, a resolution authorizing on behalf of the governor to donate the inventory of three MSCOT air packs and associated equipment to various agencies as listed in Exhibit 1. Item 26, a resolution authorizing on behalf of the governor to execute an agreement awarding Class B infrastructure incentive grant to Wesley United Methodist Church of Lexington, Kentucky Incorporated for Stormwater Quality Project at a cost not received $305,373.60. Item 27, a resolution authorizing and directly on behalf of the government to execute and submit various grant applications to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to provide any additional information requested in connection with these grant applications and to accept these grants if these grants are awarded which grant funds are in the amount of $1,060,444,500,000 FHWA planning, 108,000 Federal Transit Administration section 5303, 452,444 surface transportation block grant in federal funds and $31,250 in common with the Kentucky funds for FY2025 transportation planning activities under the unified planning work program the extent which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of two hundred three thousand eight hundred sixty one dollars to the local imagine authorizing energy transfer at a different in the grant budget item 23 28 it was a national thing that man we have every kind of next you can engineering service the green ordered pursuant to RFP 52 23 with third rock consultants LLC for design services related to water quality improvements in the Wolf one watershed it for the division of environmental services at a cost notice each 128,200 dollars and 29 it was a national president and directly on behalf of the government to execute an engineering services agreement were awarded pursuant to RFP 53 2023 with Palmer Engineering to update the Wolf 1 watershed management plan for the division of environmental services at a cost not to exceed $100,000 item 30. A resolution authorizing the division of police to purchase aircraft storage and office space from signature flight air incorporated a sole source provider and authorizing on behalf of the government to execute any necessary agreement with signature flight air incorporated related to the procurement at a cost not to exceed $30,000 item 31. a resolution authorizing the division of police to purchase jet aviation fuel from signature flight air incorporated sole source provider and authorizing mayor on behalf of their mechanic government execute any necessary agreement with signature flight air incorporated related to the procurement at a customer received a discounted price of one dollar and ten cents per gallon based on gas price fluctuations item 32. a resolution authorizing the division of police to purchase professional services and parts from the police helicopter from thoroughbred aviation maintenance a sole source provider and authorizing mayor on behalf of every kind of government execute any necessary agreement with thoroughbred aviation maintenance related to the procurement item 33. A resolution authorizing to direct me on behalf of the government to accept a donation of various items from the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association for use by the Division of Police, Item 34. A resolution authorizing to direct me on behalf of the government to execute an agreement with Stantec for archaeology services for the Armstrong Mill Project at the cost of North Sea $16,059, Item 35. A resolution authorizing directly on behalf of Irving County County to accept a $1,000 grant from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund for reforest the bluegrass 20-24, the exception which does not obligate the Irving County government to the expenditure of funds and authorizing the mayor to transfer other funds within the grant budget. Item 36, a resolution establishing a grant program to be known as Lex Grow Trees Grant Program and providing for its purpose and objectives, approving and adopting guidelines for the Lex Grow Trees Grant Program and providing for the authority of the Tree Canopy Ad Hoc Committee of the Lex Grow Trees Grant Program at a total cost not to receive $1 million. item 37. A resolution to ratify the permanent classified civil service appointments of Sean Denny, administrative officer, senior, grade 526E, 3,674.16 biweekly in the Department of Planning, preservation and development, effective March 4, 2024. Mark Grimes, equipment operator, senior, grade 515N, 22.994, hourly, individual streets and roads, effective February 7, 2024. Jamie Shepard, telecommunicator, grade 517N, 24.089, hourly, individual enhanced 911, effective February 7, 2024. Patricia Nolan, telecommunicator, senior, grade 519 and 25.579 hourly in the division of enhanced 101 effective January 10, 2024 Cody Wells telecommunicator senior grade 519 and 27.718 hourly in the division enhanced 101 effective March 4, 2024 Jennifer Yeager administrative speeches grade 516 and 23.611 hourly in the division of police effective March 11, 2024 item 38. A resolution authorizing mayor on behalf of Herbic County to execute and submit a grant application to Kentucky Office of Homeland Security seeking $187,609.50 in federal funds for the purchase of the hazmat monitors and and a USAR search equipment for the division of fire to provide any additional information requested in this requested in connection with this grant application and to accept the grant if awarded, the extent in which does not obligate the urban county government to the expenditure funds and lastly authorizing the other two trains for adequate funds in the grant budget, item 39. A resolution authorizing directly on behalf of the county government to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau regarding collaboration related to the creation of an assessment of existing wayfinding signs for the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works requiring the government to provide $14,600 for the assessment item 40. It was just in authorizing the division of fire and emergency services to purchase parts and repair of Pierce manufacturing fire apparatus from Atlantic emergency solutions, a sole source provider and authorizing on behalf of every kind of government execute and in this theory with Atlantic emergency solutions related to procurement item 41. It was just in authorizing the division of water quality to purchase parts for the rehabilitation of dissolved oxygen monitoring equipment for West Hickman wastewater treatment plant from Hatch Company, a sole source provider a cost not received $61,286.40 in authorizing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic to execute any necessary agreement with Hatch Company related to the procurement item 42. A resolution authorizing the definitive water quality to purchase services and parts for blowers at West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant from Southern Sales Company, Incorporated a social provider at a cost not received $104,925 in authorizing mayor on behalf of our mechanic to execute any necessary agreement with Southern Sales Company related to the procurement item 43. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of our mechanic to execute a a letter of agreement with the Commission of Fire Accreditation International for accreditation subject to the terms and conditions applicable to an accredited organization, item 48.4. It was just not for the mayor on behalf of the McKinney government to execute a concession agreement with the Oakwood Neighborhood Association for the management and operation of the Oakwood Neighborhood Park Center at a cost estimated not to exceed $6,000 in FY2025, subject to sufficient funds being appropriated in future fiscal years, item 45. It was just not for the mayor on behalf of McKinney government to execute a concession agreement with Cardinal Valley Park Activity Board Incorporated for the management of an operation of the Cardinal Valley neighborhood Park Center at a cost estimated not to exceed six thousand dollars in FY 2025 subject to sufficient funds being appropriated in future fiscal years item 46 a resolution authorizing man behalf of the government execute a concession agreement with Metathorpe neighborhood association incorporated for the management operation of the Metathorpe neighborhood park center at a cost estimated not to exceed six thousand dollars in FY 2025 subject to sufficient funds being appropriated in future fiscal years item 47 a resolution approving the second material material modification to the consent decree and authorizing your behalf are we going to give them to execute a the second material modification to the consent decree amending paragraph 15 G 7 of the consent decree to provide that the final deadline for all remedial measures capital construction projects shall be no later than December 31 2030 and amending paragraph 29 a of the consent decree related to the reporting requirements item 48 a resolution authorizing directly may on behalf of our county government to execute an engineering services agreement with Prime AE for the design of the North Limestone Improvement Project at a cost of $424,619. Item 49. A resolution authorizing and direct to me on behalf of the government to execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky 911 Services Board to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application and to accept this grant if the application is approved, which grant funds are in the amount of $132,516.59 in common with the Kentucky funds for the division of an emergency enhanced 911, the exception which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of $14,724.07 and authorizing mayor to transfer an out-of-cubber funds from the grant budget. Item 50, a resolution authorizing mayor on behalf of every county government to execute a concession agreement with Peraltown Neighborhood Association Incorporated for the management and operation of the Peraltown Neighborhood Park Center. It cost estimated an act to exceed $6,000 in FY2025, subject to sufficient funds being appropriated in future fiscal years. And item 51, a resolution authorizing mayor on behalf of every county government to execute an agreement related to the neighborhood development funds with Tate Creek High School PTSA Incorporated $1,765.36. Edith J. Hayes, PTSA, $200. Growing Together Preschool Incorporated $800. Pensacola Park Neighborhood Association, LLC, $3,000. Community Action Council for Lexington, Bourbon, Harrison, and Nicholas Counties Incorporated, $800. Southern Middle School PTSA Incorporated, $2,000. Pinnacle Homeowners Association Incorporated, $3,846. Lexington Children's Museum Incorporated, $2,300. African American Arts Association Incorporated, $1,200. Lex Arts Incorporated, $2,375. For the office of the Airbagina Council, Etta Costa, I can see this unscited. Thank you. Thank you. I believe we have a couple walk-ons. Councilmember Sevigny. Thank you, Mayor. I move to place on tonight's docket a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a conditional commitment letter from the Kentucky Cleaner Water Round 2 grant, accepting an award of $2,220,000 in federal funds ARPA for the construction of the Blenheim Way trunk sewer project, the acceptance of which does not obligate the Lexington urban county government to the expenditure of funds and also authorizing the mayor to transfer unencumbered funds within the grant budget. So moved. Second. Thank you. Council member Reynolds seconds. Are there any questions? All those in favor say aye. Anyone opposed? Right, that motion passes. Council member Menarez. Thank you, Mayor. I move to place on tonight's docket a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a conditional commitment letter from the Kentucky Cleaner Water Round 2 Grant accepting an award of $2,780,000 in federal funds ARPA for the East Hickman Pump Station Expansion and Rehabilitation Project, the acceptance of which does not obligate the Lexington Urban County Government to the expenditure of funds, and also authorizing the mayor to transfer unencumbered funds within the grant budget. So moved. Second. Thank you. Vice Mayor Wu seconds. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Are there any more walk-ons? Aye. All right, if you will give those first reading, please. Item 52, a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of urban county government to execute a conditional commitment letter from the Kentucky Cleaner Water Round 2 grant, accepting an award of $2,220,000 in federal funds ARPA for the Blenheim Way Trunk Sewer Project, the exception of which does not obligate the urban county government to the expenditure of funds and authorizing mayor to transfer an undercover fund to the grant budget. In item 53, a resolution authorizing mayor on behalf of urban county government to execute a conditional commitment later from the Kentucky Cleaner Water Round 2 grant, accepting an award of $2,780,000 in federal funds ARPA for the East Tickman Pump Station Expansion and Rehabilitation Project, the exception of which does not obligate the urban county government to the expenditure funds and authorizing there to transfer under current within the grant budget thank you thank you are there any is there a motion to suspend the rules council member Menoraz thank you mayor and move to suspend the rules and give second reading to item number 34 is there a second all right council member lagree are there any questions mayor yes I'd move to amend councilmember Nara's motion to suspend the rules to suspend the rules and give second reading to all items 25 through 53 so moved second all right there's a motion to amend your motion any discussion also member Ellinger seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? The walk-ons. Two walk-ons. Okay. Yes. Thank you. All right. All right. So the motion, since it wasn't an official amendment, the motion on the floor is to suspend the rules and give all second reading pardon me okay is there yes and is there any discussion all those in favor say aye aye anyone opposed will council member brown that was the motion yes thank you just those last two alright when you're ready if you will give all those resolutions second reading please item 25 it was just not facing and direct the mayor be happy we're going to government attorney and the inventory of three in Scott air packs and associated equipment to various agencies as listed in exhibit one and 26 a resolution authorizing man behalf of the committee I'm next to get an agreement awarding Class B Infrastructure Incentive Grant to Wesley United Methodist Church of Lexington, Kentucky Incorporated for a stormwater quality project that it costs not to see $305,373.60 since item 27. It was an authorizing and directly on behalf of the McKenna Cup to execute and submit various grant applications to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application and to accept these grants if these grants are awarded, which grant funds are in the amount of $1,060,440, $500,000 for FHWA Planning, $108,000 for federal transit administration section 5303, $552,444 for service transportation block grant in federal funds and $31,250 in common with the Kentucky funds for FY2024 transportation planning activities under the unified planning work program, the exception which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of $233,861 as a local match and authorizing the mayor to transfer other funds within the grant budget, item 28. A resolution authorizing and direct the man on behalf of the government to execute an engineering services agreement award pursuant to RFP 52-2023 with 3rd Rock Consultants LLC for design services related to water quality improvements in the Wolf Run Watershed for the Division of Environmental Services at Acosta North to Seed $128,200, item 29. A resolution authorizing and direct the man on behalf of the government to execute an engineering services agreement awarded pursuant to number RFP 53-2023 with Palmer Engineering to update the Wolf Run Watershed Management Plan for the Division of Environmental Services at a cost not to exceed $100,000 at M30. It was written authorizing the Division of Police to purchase aircraft storage and office space from Signature Flight Air Incorporated, a sole source provider, and authorizing the air on behalf of the mechanic of the next UK and a necessary agreement with Signature Flight Air Incorporated related to the procurement at a cost not to exceed $30,000 at M31. It was written authorizing the Division of Police to purchase jet aviation fuel from Signature Flight Air Incorporated, a sole source provider, and authorizing the air on behalf of the mechanic of the next UK and a necessary agreement with Signature Flight Air Incorporated related to the procurement at a cost not to exceed a discounted price of $1.10 per gallon based on gas price fluctuations, item 32. A resolution authorizing the Division of Police to purchase professional services in part for the police helicopter from Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance as a sole source provider and authorizing may on behalf of the Brickett Academy to execute any necessary agreement with Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance related to the procurement, item 33. A resolution authorizing the may on behalf of the Brickett Academy to execute a donation of various items for the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association for use by the Division of Police, item 32. It was an authorizing on behalf of Urban County Government to execute an agreement with Stantec for Archaeology Services for the Armstrong Mill Project that cost not to exceed $16,059 item 35. It was an authorizing on behalf of Urban County Government to accept a $1,000 grant from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund for Reforest the Bluegrass 2024, the exception which does not obligate the Urban County Government to the expenditure of funds and authorizing the mayor to transfer other funds to the grant budget item 36. It was establishing a grant program to be known as the Lexgro Trees Grant Program and Providing for its purpose and objectives, approving and adopting guidelines for the Lex Grow Trees Grant Program and providing for the authority of the tree canopy ad hoc committee of the Lex Grow Trees Grant Program at a total cost not to exceed $1 million, item 37. A resolution ratifying the employment classified civil service appointment of Sean Denny, administrative officer senior grade 526E-3674.16 biweekly in the Department of Planning, Preservation and Development, effective March 4, 2024. Mark Grimes, Equipment Operator Senior, Grade 515N, 22.994 hourly in the Division of Streets and Roads, effective February 7, 2024. Jamie Shepherd, Telecommunicator, Grade 517N, 24.089 hourly in the Division of Enhanced 911, effective February 7, 2024. Patricia Nolan, Telecommunicator Senior, 519N, 25.579 hourly in the Division of Enhanced 911, effective January 10, 2024. Cody Wells, Telecommunicator Senior, Grade 519N, 27.718 hourly in the Division of Enhanced effective March 4, 2024 Jennifer Yeager administrative specialist grade 516 and 23.611 hourly in the digital police effective March 11, 2024 item 38. A resolution authorizing their on behalf of the committee committee execute and submit a grant application to Kentucky Office of Homeland Security seeking 187,609 dollars and 50 cents in federal funds for the purchase of hazmat managers and USAR search equipment for the division of fire to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application to accept this grant if awarded the exception which does not look at the urban government to the expenditure funds and lastly authorizing the marriage to transfer funds within the grant budget item 39 it was not was in instructing their behalf of beginning to execute a memorandum of understanding with Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau regarding collaboration related to the creation of an asset and of assessment of existing wayfinding science for the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works requiring the government to provide fourteen thousand six hundred dollars for the assessment and 14 it was not the division of fire and emergency services to purchase parts and repair of Pierce manufacturing fire apparatus from Atlantic Emergency Solutions, a sole source provider and authorizing mayor on behalf of Hurricane Icom to execute any necessary agreement with Atlantic Emergency Solutions related to the procurement item 41. A resolution authorizing the Division of Water Quality to purchase parts for the rehabilitation of dissolved oxygen monitoring equipment at West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant for the HACH company, a sole source provider to cost $61,286.40 and authorizing mayor on behalf of the Hurricane Icom to execute any necessary agreement with HACH company related to the procurement item 42. A resolution authorizing the division of water quality to purchase services and parts for blowers at waste, take min-waste water treatment plant from Southern Sales Company, incorporated sole source provider, cost an act to exceed $104,925 in authorizing the mayor on behalf of the government to execute any necessary agreement with Southern Sales Company related to the procurement, item 43. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the government to execute a letter or agreement with the commission of fire accreditation at International for accreditation subject to the terms and conditions applicable to an accredited organization, item 44. a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the government to execute a concession agreement with the Oakwood Neighborhood Association for the management and operation of the Oakwood Neighborhood Park Center at a cost estimated not to exceed $6,000 in FY 2025 subject to sufficient funds being appropriated in future fiscal years item 45 a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the government to execute a concession agreement with the Cardinal Valley Park Activity Board incorporated for the management and operation of the Cardinal Valley Neighborhood Park Center at a cost estimated not to exceed $6,000 in FY 2025 subject to sufficient funds being appropriated in future fiscal years item 46 a resolution authorizing on behalf of every can again to execute a concession agreement with metathorpe neighborhood association incorporated for the management and operation of the metathorpe neighborhood park center at a cost estimated not to see six thousand dollars in FY 2025 subject to sufficient funds being appropriated in future fiscal years item 47 a resolution approving the second material modification to the consent decree and authorizing mayor on behalf of every gonna government execute the second material modification to the consent decree amending paragraph 15 point G point seven of the consent decree to provide for the that the final deadline for all remedial measures capital construction projects shall be no later than December 31 2030 and amending paragraph 29 a of the conduct consent decree related to the reporting requirement item 48 it was a should not be on behalf of the committee to execute an engineering services agreement with prime AE for the design of the North Lampstone improvement project at a cost of received four hundred twenty four thousand six hundred nineteen dollars and 49 a religion authorizing authorizing to the man behalf of the government execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky 9-1-1 services board to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application and to accept this grant if the application is approved which grant funds are in the amount of $132,516.59 in common with the Kentucky funds for the division of enhanced 9-1-1 the exception which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of $14,724.07 and others the mayor to transfer other cover funds within the grant budget item 50. The resolution authorizing man behalf of the government to execute a concession agreement with the Pearltown neighborhood association for the management and operation of the Pearltown neighborhood Park Center at a cost estimated not to exceed $6,000 in FY 2025 subject to sufficient funds of being appropriated in future future fiscal years item 51 a resolution authorizing to the mayor on behalf of the getting up next you get an agreement related to the neighborhood development funds with Tates Creek High School PTSA incorporated $1,764.36 either J Hayes PTSA $200 growing together preschool incorporated $800 Pensacola Park neighborhood association LLC $3,000 community action council for Lexington Bourbon Harrison and Nicholas counties incorporated $800 southern middle school PTSA incorporated $2,000 Pinnacle Homeowner Association incorporated $3,846 Lexington Children's Museum incorporated $2,300 African American Arts Association incorporated $1,200 Lex Arts incorporated $2,375 for the office of the Urban County Council at a cost not to exceed the sum stated. Item 52 a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the McKinney Council to execute an additional commitment letter from the Kentucky Cleaner Water Round 2 grant accepting an award of two million two hundred and twenty thousand dollars in federal funds ARPA for the Blanheim way trunk sewer project these seven which does not obligate the urban and government to the expenditure funds and authorizing me to trade for the grant budget and item 53 a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of McKinney I'm dig to get a conditional commitment later from the Kentucky cleaner water round two grant accepting an award of two million seven hundred and eighty thousand dollars in federal funds ARPA for the East Hickman pump station expansion and rehabilitation project the acceptance which does not obligate the urban kind of government to the expenditure of funds and authorizing may I to transfer an outcome of friends within the grant budget. Council member LaGree did you have a question? No? Okay. Is there a motion to approve? Okay, council member Greg, council member Fogle seconds and when you're ready we'll take a roll call vote please. Councilmember Fred Brown. Yes. Councilmember James Brown. Councilmember Ellinger. Yes, ma'am. Councilmember Elliott Baxter. Councilmember Fogle. Yes. Councilmember Gray. Yes. Councilmember Legree. Yes. Councilmember Lynch. Yes. Councilmember Minares. Councilmember Plowman. Yes. Councilmember Reynolds. Yes. Councilmember Sevigny. Yes. Council Member Sheehan? Yes. Council Member Worley? Vice Mayor. Vice Mayor Wu? Thank you. Thank you. Those all pass. And Council, I'll entertain a motion for communications from the mayor. Second. I missed the council member. Did you move? And Vice Mayor Wu seconded. Any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that passes. And we have our price contracts. A motion please. Council Member Pullman moved. Council Member Gray seconded. Any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. And, Council Members, you have a few pages of communications from the mayor for your information only. and Chief Wells will be presenting some disciplines tonight. Welcome, Chief. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council. I have three disciplines for you this evening. The first, on Friday, December 19th, 2023, an internal allegation was made that firefighter Matthew Campbell, 59174, violated UDG 1.11 late tardy and AWOL at the conclusion of the investigation the employee met with me and accepted a written reprimand this is firefighter Campbell's first documented AWOL and stems from his failure to report on time to a scheduled training he's been employed since June of 2021 thank you is there a motion to approve all right we had a motion from councilmember Reynolds second councilmember gray now are there questions for the chief log in if you have a question all right all those in favor say aye is anyone opposed all right motion is approved thank you the second on Tuesday October 3rd 2023 an internal allegation was made that firefighter Daniel Penalva 58650 violated UDG 2.05 department reports. At the conclusion of the investigation, the employee met with me and accepted an eight-hour suspension without pay. This is Firefighter Penalva's first documented offense of UDG 2.05 since his employment with the Division of Fire in June of 2020. This violation stems from an incident where he incorrectly documented classroom time as ride time necessary for his paramedic certification. Thank you. Vice Mayor Wu moves approval. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Reynolds seconds. Any questions for Chief Wells? All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Thank you. Finally, on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023, an internal allegation was made that firefighter Thomas Edens 55422 violated UDG 5.0. conformance to laws at the conclusion of the investigation the employee met with me and accepted a 336 hour or six-week suspension without pay and mandatory employee assistance this is firefighter Eden's first documented offense of UDG 5.01 since his employment with the division of fire in March of 2017 and the violation stems from an off-duty incident in which firefighter Eden's pled guilty to disorderly conduct thank you is there a motion to approve Council member Sheehan moves. I'm sorry who seconded? Council member Menorahs seconded. Now are there any questions for Chief Wells? I see none. All those in favor of approval say aye. Is anyone opposed? All right that motion passes. Thank you. Thank you all. All right now council members it's time for announcements. Council member Denise Gray. Don't go too far. But first of all, thank you, Chris. So, sorry. I'm waiting for Chris to pull up the images. Sorry. But last week, one thing about being on council is it's always been my goal to uplift individuals in our community who are doing great things where they are and and so i invented an award which was the spirit of the sixth district award and and the first awardees for uh... for this award actually do not reside anywhere near the sixth district in fact they're more likely to be in my colleague red browns district or my other colleague random and our assistance district uh... i found i i caught the entire uh... takes creek middle school cheer squad uh... cheering on uplifting other young ladies at the middle school chair middle school cheer and dance showcase back in january and they they were the only school at that stayed behind to cheer on other dance teams and they cheered on them like they knew them like they personally knew them and they wanted them to do well and i thought to myself this this is a team that needs to be recognized for that that they're doing because i saw them doing great things when they didn't know anyone else is watching them so add to the coaches uh... at tates creek middle school and to the cheerleaders on the squad great job keep lifting up others as keep doing good even when no one else is or when you don't realize anyone else is watching you uh... next uh... this weekend we actually have a lot of great activities going on in the sixth district and saturday at frederick douglas high school please uh... join this is some students at frederick douglas high school who are putting on this event it's called uh... breakfast with the bunny there's gonna be a easter egg hunt and other activities going on please join them nine a.m. to eleven a.m. and it's free so bring your family out to the sixth district and next we also on that same day uh... you can join the fayette county education association uh... at frederick douglas high school for and read across america celebration you will have uh... many uh... leaders in our community such as myself uh... i saw that chief uh... uh... weathers will be there and some others will be there reading books for fifteen minutes each i believe and there will also be bouncy houses and other activities and free books to be given out so join us all over once again at frederick douglas high school from two a m excuse me to p m to five p m and i believe the council member james brown will be there as well uh... and lastly i would like to bring up chief jason wells to speak on some great things that the fire department is doing. Well, thank you very much for this opportunity. So the pictures that you're seeing are from our O2X wellness workshops. We just over the last three days held number four of six of these seminars. I was fortunate enough to be able to go through this three day training and we did everything from physical fitness to mental wellness and resiliency to sleep health to nutrition and some i rest and guided meditation which is probably the most relaxed i've been since i've been fire chief so it was a phenomenal opportunity and i thank you all for supporting that and if anybody wants to come out and witness it i'll let you know when the next one is and just give me a call thank you very much thank you and i hope to join this next one i tried but allergies attacked me so um thank you mayor and thank you chief Wells for all the great things that you are doing with the fire department. Thank you. Councilmember Plowman. Thank you, Mayor. I wish former Councilmember Jake Gibbs could have been with us tonight to be recognized. Jake used to always say, always bring a book, and he did. He always brought a book. But tomorrow is the last day of Jake's birthday book drive, and you can collect your books and get them there tomorrow. I'm sure you all have books in your house like I do that I've done reading them and you can take them to the International Book Project on that is located on 1440 Delaware Avenue and this is his cell this is his birthday week so you know we all missed him tonight but we can take action to remember and recognize him tomorrow thank you mayor thank you councilmember Fred Brown thank you mayor I just want to give a shout out about our celebration. I think it went over real well. And we had the committee, Mayor, that you were on, along with Council Member Ellinger, Council Member Baxter. And we had Susan Straub, Heather Lyons, Shante Hall, Paula King, Shannon Settles, and Rob Bolson. And special thanks to Chris Edwards for the slideshow. So it takes a team, and a team, and there's others that certainly work, some of the legislative age, but very proud to work with the group, and I think it was successful, and I just wanted to do a shout-out for that. And the other thing is that most of you recognize the portraits or pictures that we had in frames. We're still missing some council groups. So I'm still going to try to get an appeal out there to get any of those council pictures, inauguration or whatever, and I'll get them framed if I can get the pictures. So hopefully we'll get the rest of those. And those will be up. We'll put those up on the wall in the fifth floor conference room when we get that done. So thank you. Thank you, and thank you for your leadership. Council Member Lynch. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to remind my neighbors in McConnell's Trace, the Easter egg hunt is this Saturday at 2 PM in the neighborhood. Please get there early, because last year all the eggs were gone within less than two minutes. Ten minutes, less than ten minutes. So please bring your families to the Easter egg hunt Saturday at 2 PM in the neighborhood. Thank you. Thank you. Any other council announcements? All right, it's time for public comment, and we have several people signed up. And the way this works is that I will call your name, and you'll come to the podium, and you'll need to restate your name as well as your council district, and you'll have three minutes to speak. I believe there are not any speakers tonight yielding time. So first up is Judith Humble followed by Henry Jackson. I'm sorry? Oh, that's fine. One Henry Jackson and then Judith Humble. Welcome back, Henry. Hi, Mayor, members of council. On behalf of the Bluegrass- Excuse me, can you say your name in your council district? I was, yes, that's in- Oh, okay. I appreciate it, Mayor. But I need to first identify that this is on behalf of the Bluegrass Climate Action Team. My name is Henry Jackson, 7th District. I'd like to reiterate my recognition of last year that the city paused further work on its USB expansion plan until it's had an opportunity to do something else first. And that is to conduct an assessment of the Bluegrass region's vulnerability of potential local impacts due to climate change and subsequently prepare a recommended plan to deal with those vulnerabilities. This will give the city a better understanding of what may lie ahead for responsive and successful USB expansion. A vital first step of the challenge is understanding the nature of the threat and, too, our distinct advantage having most all extreme weather blow around the Bluegrass region. With that in mind and the courtesy of the Sierra Club Bluegrass Group, we'd like to of each council member in the city public information officer a copy of Greta Thunberg's latest book the climate book which I understand your climate aid or council aids have distributed to your mailboxes it's a collection of about 70 very short essays on every conceivable aspect of climate change each of the two to four page essays is written by an expert in her or his field. I've also included a copy of my op-ed from last summer to more fully explain our suggestion here. Lastly, I'd like to urge the TV audience to consider making energy conservation improvements and installation of related equipment to not only save significant money but also reduce the overall energy load for the city that in turn could significantly aid the city's transition to renewable energy sources meaning that the less transition needed translates to less cost simply put making energy conservation improvements in your home and business is a twofer you can find needed information including significant tax breaks online at the bluegrass green source website bggreensource.org and look for the tab what you can do to be clear my emphasis here is not reduce greenhouse gas emissions although I commend the council on its passage this evening of that step to start that planning and it is surely helpful instead my suggestion here is to hope for the best but plan for the worst thank you for your consideration of our suggestion I'd be happy to answer any questions or offline my email address is included okay thank you so much hold this up pardon me this is the book did I hold okay thank you thank you Judith Humble and you'll be followed by Sophia Shalosh welcome you Judith Humble from district 5 and good evening to mayor Gorton vice mayor Wu and all our council members. I wanted to follow up Henry's introduction of the book. I'm the chair of the Bluegrass Climate Action Team in Lexington and also the chair for the Sierra Club Bluegrass Group Conservation Committee. Henry has vetted this book for us and I'm very proud of his selection. Greta Thunberg is our youngest worldwide climate activist. She became an activist at age 15. She has never stopped doing her important work and Henry has read exhaustively of the literature about climate change, and he has vetted this as the best book he has read. I think it's going to be very useful. So I started work on climate change in 2013. When I started, I was unable to find much evidence of action on the part of the city of Lexington other than a series of climate pledges made by some past mayors and an Empower Lexington Sustainability Plan, which had disappeared from view. Now, in 2024, I am grateful to observe that we have moved dramatically forward, thanks to a series of important actions on the part of our city government and our council. And I believe that these actions, I'm going to mention a few, were encouraged, informed, and supported by concerned citizens in our community, so I see them as collaborative efforts. Certainly the creation of a sustainability manager position, now occupied by the very dynamic jada griggs plans to a clear commitment to address climate change in our imagine lexington comprehensive plan the adoption of a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 which was introduced and sponsored by david civigny and puts us in a line with the uh recommendations of the paris agreement and then finally what you've done tonight which is agreed to fund with with $505,000, a consulting company to write a comprehensive climate action plan for Lexington, and that is just a huge, huge, huge step. I'm really excited about that. So we're presenting the book to you in the spirit of gratitude for what you've already done, in the spirit of inspiration for what we're going to do, and in the spirit of collaboration for undertaking this important work together. I think we are really moving forward now. And we hope you will use this book as a reminder, even if you're not actively reading it, to think of every decision you make as a council member in terms of its impact on climate change. We're facing a new world, and it's a world in which 70-degree days become a norm in our winters. And that's not a good thing, even if we experience those as pleasurable. And we're reading in the papers about climate crises every day. So folks are waiting for you. And your mailboxes, you're our gatekeepers. We want you to keep on doing what you started to do. And thank you. Thank you so much. Next is Sophia Shalosh, followed by Shakira Syed. Welcome. Welcome. I'm Sophia Shalash, District 4. From the river to the sea, Palestine will never be. Thank you. From the river to the sea, Palestine will never be. Thank you. Not sure if you heard that. That was a clip from the last time we attended this meeting. Did you hear him? Did you hear what he said? From the river to the sea, Palestine will never be. not only was it said but it was shouted at us and not only was it shouted but he was thanked and then we were admonished to be respectful of all speakers including those who scream hate speech directly at us I haven't been able to stop thinking about it this council speaks of their desire to keep all Lexington citizens safe but exemplifies otherwise. When anti-Palestinian rhetoric is shouted, the people shouting get police protection. Where was the admonishment of the hateful rhetoric? Do you think we felt safe? When a Palestinian in attendance who was understandably upset stood up and shouted in response, they were escorted out of the building. Well, the person who shouted the hate-filled slur got to stay. What message does that send to us? We live in a world where people shouting ceasefire are labeled as the radical violent ones and the ones who want the violence to continue are protected. Do better, pass a ceasefire resolution. Thank you. Next is Shakira Syed followed by Moose Saman. Welcome. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Shakira Syed. I'm from District 5. Since our last council meeting, Israel has conducted even more destruction and hospital raids, countless bombardments of remaining neighborhoods. There have been countless arrests of civilians. They've withheld humanitarian aid from passing through checkpoints. And when they do allow some of those trucks to go through, Israel slaughters innocent civilians running toward those humanitarian aid trucks. Since our last council meeting, children have begun to die from malnutrition and starvation. At our last council meeting, we told you that Gaza was on the brink of an Israeli-made famine. And here we are today with all this wonderful revelry, but still suffering the images of the many injured, wounded, limbless, and orphaned children who have just been left to die. And still there has been no change in this chamber. Miss Denise Gray, I'd like to acknowledge you again today. What you did was heroic for being brave and standing tall toward justice amongst your colleagues. I commend you. It's 2024. Of course this genocide is being live-streamed. At this point, if the world isn't paying attention, If you aren't paying attention, it's because you care not to pay attention. You aren't far removed sitting here in this fancy chamber. As part of our government, not only do you hold the power to not be complicit in this genocide, power that we elected you to have, we put you in the seats you hold to be our voices, and we're calling on you to pass a city resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Seventy major cities have passed resolutions calling for a ceasefire. Louisville is one of them. I mentioned that last council meeting. There are 86 senators that have called for a ceasefire. Kentucky's very own Muhammad Ali once said, I declare support for the Palestinian struggle. He showed us how to be great against all naysayers. What is holding Lexington back? Show us how great you are by using your sense of justice and your good conscience to call for a ceasefire in Gaza now. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Moose Saman, followed by Anshel Ruvane. Welcome. Good evening. My name is Musa Saman, District 9. I'm a Palestinian Christian. I was born and lived and have lived in Palestine half my life. My family tree document in books that goes back before 1776 in Palestine. What is happening now, the genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza is against all Palestinians. bombs and rockets are killing both Christians and Muslim children women and elderly I have an example I thought of what would happen if you lived in an apartment filled with a lot of Muslims and there is two families Christian a a family of Jewish and their apartment building caught on fire. Well I sit down as a Christian and say hey they're bombing or the fires can kill all the Muslim or should I go and fight that fire. I believe I should go and fight that fire because it's gonna kill me like everybody else. Okay, in Gaza, which is part of Palestine, collectively people are standing up to fight that fire to the best way they were able to. I'm proud Palestinian. From the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized, that's where I lived, to the Mediterranean Sea, Palestine will be free. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Ansel Reuven, followed by Rabbi Litvin. Welcome. Thank you, ma'am. My name is Ansel Reuven, District 3. So hopefully we're going to be done with this gaslighting crocodile tear stuff. I mean, the way we can look at this is, you want to talk about apartheid? We'll talk about apartheid. Not one Jew, not one lives in Palestine, any of it, none of it. I'm sorry, Gaza or the West Bank. do they need a visa to work in israel sure it's just like any other country just like this one you're a u.s citizen you want to work in canada i grew up on the canadian border you have to have a visa you're canadian you want to work here you have to have a visa it's no different and you are correct there are streets that jews can travel and palestinians can travel in israel But in Palestine, Gaza, there are no roads where any Jew can travel. Jews can't go to Gaza. The Knesset is made up of 20% Palestinian Muslims. They don't have a two-party government like we do. They have a war cabinet who's headed by Benny Gantz, which is Benjamin Netanyahu's opponent. Benny Gantz is the one that's calling the shots, not Netanyahu. Ask yourself a question. How come Egypt doesn't want to take them in or help them? Jordan doesn't want to take them. Iran just wants to give them money and Hezbollah. These people killed, raped, dismembered Israeli women, children, and some men. mr vice mayor with all due respect sir i condemn the act the remarks that you spoke of uh last week two weeks ago the only thing this current administration is doing is giving in to the regional office of the hamas headquarters in dearborn michigan where i'm from my rabbi rabbi shlomo litvin The longest serving rabbi in Kentucky, my friend, my mentor, is the only real rabbi in the city. He's done more for the city of Lexington than any other rabbi has. You want to talk about the river to the sea? We can do that. That calls for the annihilation of Jews. You want to ask around to find out? You just did. Next is Rabbi Litvin followed by Levi Benai. Welcome. Before I get started, Levi is his first time speaking and he intended to assign his time as the one after him. Is it possible at this point to have that time assigned? Levi, where are you? And who did you want to give your time to? To Rabbi Litvin? All right. who was after levi buffer is the next person on your list they're both signing up the first time they weren't sure how sign up when bocker who did you want to give your time to alright so you will have nine minutes sorry to make your job harder Good evening. My name is Rabbi Litvin. I'm an emissary at Lubavitch Reverend Benachmendl Schneerson, the former Jewish leader in the modern era. I also serve as rabbi at Chabad of Bluegrass, the local branch of Chabad Lubavitch, the largest Jewish organization in the world. I serve as director of the Chabad at UK Jewish Student Center, serving the Jewish community at the University of Kentucky, and I am currently chairman of the Kentucky Jewish Council. I am also the currently senior or longest serving rabbi in Lexington, not all through Kentucky. I rise today as I have the last two council meetings to address a continued campaign that is entirely surrounded by lies and misinformation calling on the city council to intervene in a foreign affair and call for a ceasefire in Israel's war on the genital Hamas terrorist group which began following the atrocities of October 7th. Several points that were said earlier that should be cleared up. Louisville did not endorse a ceasefire resolution. the Sea's Fire Resolution failed, and I'm very proud to be part of the effort that helped it fail. Also, a quote from last week was used and repeated here several times. The full quote that was said was, until Hamas chooses peace from the river to the sea. When you exclude the offer of peace, it lays bare their entire point of view. Their entire point of view is to ignore offers of peace. Their entire point of view is to ignore that in 1937 and 1948 and 1967 and 1973 and 1990 and 1993 and 1996 and in 2006 peace offers were made if there was any interest in living side by side that solution would have happened a long time ago and still today the impediment to peace is a refusal to live side live alongside Jews in their holy land President Clinton after spending months at Camp David publicly said that he was a failure, and Yasser Arafat, the arch-terrorist of the PLO, was one who made him a failure. It doesn't have to be the option. There is an option of peace, and that is why, as I said in previous weeks, that a call for a ceasefire is superfluous. Israel has had a ceasefire on the table since October 7th, with two simple and moral conditions. The return of the hostages were kidnapped, including six Americans. The number was seven last time I spoke. However, one 19-year-old American was slaughtered in the last two weeks, as well as nine-month-old Kfir Bibas and his older brother, three-year-old Ariel Bibas, and the return of the hostages who they already slaughtered, and the second condition, disarmament and surrender of the Hamas Genocidal Terrorist Organization, to keep them from carrying out their promise of carrying out October 7th again and again and again. It's that simple. if anyone in this council wants to call for peace, it's very simple. Call for release of the hostages. Call for Hamas to surrender. The idea that any sovereign nation, be it America, be it Israel, be it England, would live alongside a terrorist organization that has called for the death of civilians, that has raped and slaughtered their way across their land, and has threatened to do it again and again, that they would stop a police action to stop those terrorists is silly. We wouldn't do it in America and they're not going to do it in Israel. Earlier someone mentioned that their family can trace back in the Holy Land until 1776 and then he pointed out that 2,000 years ago Jews were bathing in the Jordan River. Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people and it has been for the last 3,700 years. Today is the fast of Esther. I haven't had a drink or eaten all day as we commemorate the sacrifices and the heroism of Esther, a young woman who was kidnapped from her home, as so many were kidnapped by the Hamas genocidal terrorists, and brought to the palace of the dictator Xerxes, Ahasuerus. Although she was in this incredibly, incredibly risky situation, she was willing to risk her life for the small chance that her interceding on behalf of her people would be effective. While we fast today, on Saturday night we'll celebrate the festival of Purim, commonly called in English the feast of Esther, where we celebrate that Haman's evil plan came to not. That despite the fact that on paper his plan would be successful, on paper everything Haman said would come to pass, but it all failed. God turned it upside down and the Jewish people were saved. It might be the most repeated story in Jewish history. It simplifies as this. They tried to kill us. They failed. Let's eat. We tell the story about the Soviets and about the Nazis. We tell the story about the Persians and about the Greeks, we tell the story about Moab and about Ammon, we tell the story about Egypt where we were slaves for 210 years. My children will tell that story about Sinwar and his ilk in Hamas, as I tell that story about Yasser Arafat and his ilk in the PLO, who were beaten back, as we tell that story about Black September, as we tell that story about Ghassan and the PFLP. If one wants to see the future, one only has to look at the past, and one who doesn't study history will be doomed to repeat it. This Saturday, Jews will gather in synagogue to read Parsha's Zacher, to read the reading of the Torah that talks about the enemy of the Jews, Amalek. Amalek attacked the Jews as they left Egypt and is the first attempt to wipe out the Jewish people. people. For 3,300 years since that day, we have remembered that attack. That attack is mentioned by Jews in prayer every single day. Under the sky, don't forget. So I will ask you to join me in not forgetting, in not forgetting the community in Neer Oz who were raped and slaughtered on October 7th. To not remember the communities all along the borders, in Kfar Aza, in Sderot, who were attacked in the streets in their homes where children were murdered, where women were raped, and where countless people were taken hostage and tortured. I could go on for a prolonged period of time discussing the atrocities of October 7th, but the result would be the same. Until Hamas makes two choices, the return of the hostages they still hold, including the bodies of those they've already murdered, and the disarmament and surrender of Hamas so they cannot fulfill their promise to commit another October 7th and another October 7th and another October 7th, this war will not end. Any call for this war to end without the return of the hostages is saying you are okay with those hostages being held, you are okay with those hostages being slaughtered. Any call for a ceasefire that doesn't include the disarmament and surrender of Hamas means that you want this to happen again in three months, in six months, in nine months, because they will attempt an attack again, a war will start again, and innocents will die again. It is an immoral ask to call for a ceasefire without mentioning the terrorist group that began the war. The Lubavitcher Rebbe of Menachem Loshnirson, the foremost Jewish leader of the modern era, famously spoke about a story of Mordechai, the leader of the Jews in Persia, during the story of Purim. Mordechai was coming home from the palace when he saw three children standing on the way. And he asked them, what are you studying? And the boys recited three verses from the scripture. We don't fear the plans of our enemies. They can make plans, but they're going to fail. I know that God is with me from now and to my old age. The Rebbe pointed out that it is remarkable the leader of the Jewish community around the globe would make time to speak to three children, would make time out of his incredibly busy day to listen to the complaints of children. So I want to thank everyone in this council number one for over the last six council meetings sitting through a whole bunch of complaints of children and your dedication to the community. And I want to say that that message those children said in Persia 2,400 years ago, do not fear the evil plan, is still believed by children in the community today. It's believed by my children. by Jewish children all across Kentucky. Just as Haman attempted to slaughter us and failed, just as Hitler tried to slaughter us and failed, just as Stalin tried to slaughter us and failed, Khalid Mishal and Sinwar and Mahmoud Salash and all Hamas leaders and their supporters will fail in their attempt to wipe out the Jewish people. Am Yisrael Chai, the nation of Israel lives. Bring home the hostages. Bring them home now. And I want to conclude with saying may be the will of God. May God protect and uplift the heroes of the IDF as they carry out their holy task, protecting the citizens of Israel. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Alyssa Rigney. Welcome. Hello, my name is Alyssa Rigney. I am from District 11. So I did not originally plan on speaking today. I didn't have anything written down, so I apologize if I stumble a little. But today I wanted to tell you all about my grandfather. Unfortunately, he passed away from cancer last week. I only got 30 days from when he was hospitalized to when he passed. But my grandfather was the type of man that I want every American to be. He was unbelievably proud of this country. He wore these American flag shirts every day, like the ones you find at Old Navy. and he always did his he always made sure to be an upstanding citizen he joined a reunion carpentry was his career for his whole life and he joined a union right away he always voted and then when I got old enough and we started having conversations about what has been going on in our country, all the injustice, all the prejudice, racism, homophobia, all of the things that plague our country, Islamophobia, anti-semitism. When we started having these conversations, he took that time to listen. He always listened to me, even if it didn't go with what he believed. He let me build my own morals, my own beliefs. He let me learn to fight for what is a better future for everyone. And he listened, even if it was uncomfortable, even if it wasn't what he wanted to hear. He always listened. Sometimes he fought back, argued back. But then he would go and he would learn. He'd take the time to do his research. He'd learn, he'd unlearn. And he was always humble about it. He always apologized when he was wrong. And he learned to be a better person. And he wanted to be a better person. He told me that he wanted to fight for the world that I believed in, that I was fighting for. So I urge you guys to be a little bit more like my grandfather. I appreciate the call for ceasefires where they have been said. And please listen. Please learn. Please unlearn hate. And just be an upstanding American. It's okay to be proud in your country, but it's okay to admit we have flaws too. Thank you very much. That concludes our public So thank you all for coming and I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Is there a second? All those in favor say aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you for coming. Thank you.