So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So So Authorizing Mayor, on behalf of the County, I'm going to execute an agreement with BMI bills related to the bid, item 31. A resolution ratifying the permanent classified civil service appointments of James Hess, public service supervisor, grade 517N, 31.078, hourly in the division of streets and roads. Effective February 26th, 2025, Brendan Campbell, program specialist, grade 514N, 21.143, hourly in the division of environmental services. Effective March 6th, 2025, Aaron Daniel, telecommunicator, grade 517N, 23.952, hourly in the division of enhanced 9-1-1. Effective March 24th, 2025, Shane Adcock, telecommunicator, grade 517N, 23.473, hourly in the division of enhanced 9-1-1. Effective March 23rd, 2025, Tim Anderson, skilled trade worker, grade 515N, 24.118, hourly in the division of facilities and fleet management. Effective March 16th, 2025, Lily Robertson, recreation manager, grade 520N, 29.568, hourly in the division of parks and recreation. Effective February 26th, 2025, Jacob Semenek, public service worker senior, grade 510N, 17.499, hourly in the division of parks and recreation. Effective February 26th, 2025, item 32. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute an engineering services agreement with UES Professional Solutions 25 LLC to allow the entity to assume the price contract with Geotechnology Incorporated previously authorized by resolution number 430-2021 at no additional cost to the Urban County Government, item 33. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to reallocate, replace existing sanitary sewer for aphid's way widening project at no cost to the Lexington Urban County Government, item 34. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to amend four existing lease agreements with Crown Castle by adding one renewal term of five years to sell tower leases located in various park locations, item 35. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute changer number 5 to the contract with W Princeville's LLC, DBA, the Walker Company of Kentucky for town branch, RASWA's pump station improvements for the Division of Water Quality increase in the contract by the sum of $19,700 from $3,109,669.98 to $3,129,669.98, item 36. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute a monthly year agreement with Thompson Reuters West Publishing Corporation for subscription to a clear government background investigation database and services for the Division of Revenue at a cost of exceed $1,996.86 in FY 2025, item 37. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute an agreement with I Was Here Incorporated to fund a public art project with the funds from the Percent for Art Fund through the Public Art Commission's collaborative grant program in the amount not to exceed $51,323.38. A resolution authorizing the 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 $25,000 in federal funds under the 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to purchase smoke alarms to the extent of which obligates Urban County Government to the expenditure of $1,250 as a local match and authorizing the Mayor to transfer adequate funds within the grant budget, item 39. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute agreement RFP number 2225 with Tunnels Spangler and Associates Incorporated DBA TESW for the Blue Sky Activity Center small area plan at a cost not to exceed $486,000, item 40. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute a grant agreement with Central Kentucky Business Park Authority to assist with the organization's startup expenses at a cost not to exceed $60,000, item 41. A resolution authorizing the Mayor or her designee on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute change of note number one to the agreement with TerraCon for special inspections associated with the new senior and therapeutic center construction increasing the contract price by the sum of $15,320 from $34,985 to $50,305, item 42. A resolution approving the granting of an inducement to Lexair Incorporated or its successor or affiliate pursuant to the Kentucky Business Investment Act KRS Subchapter 154.32, whereby the Lexington Urban County Government agrees to rebate annually 1% of the company's occupational license fee for a term of no longer than ten years from the activation date subject to the limitations contained in the act in any agreement with the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority or the Urban County Government related to the project and taking other related action, item 43. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County next to get an agreement with the Institute of Technology and Management to host an occupant kinematics for the traffic crash reconstructionist training course at a cost not to exceed $16,500, item 44. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute a grant application to the Commonwealth of Kentucky Waste Hire Program to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application. And to accept this grant and forwarded which grant funds are in the amount of $8,065 in state funds and the acceptance of which obligates Urban County Government to the expenditure of $2,016.25 as a local match and authorizing the Mayor to transfer undercover funds within the grant budget, item 45. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force for formalizing the relationship between the FBI and the juvenile probation and court services in the division of youth services in order to maximize cooperation and create a cohesive unit. And to delineate the responsibilities and commitment of the FBI JTTF and juvenile probational court services, item 46. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute a settlement agreement with Child Neurology Education and Research Foundation Corporation related to the organization's incentive agreement under the Jobs Funds Program at no additional cost to the Urban County Government, item 47. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of Urban County Government to execute agreements related to neighborhood development funds with Common Good Community Development Corporation, 554. Greater Garden Site Association, LLC 1,000, Allegro Dance Project Incorporated, 2350, African American Forum Incorporated, 1500, Stonewall Equestrian Estates. Association Incorporated, 500, Lex Hall 311, 1,000, Black Male Working Academy Incorporated, 2600, Golf View Estates Neighborhood Association Incorporated, 400. Community Inspired Lexington Incorporated, 750, Lexington Gay Services Organization Incorporated, 2,000. Community Inspired Lexington, 4,550, Old Paris Place Community LLC, 750, Partners for Youth Foundation Incorporated, 1,900. Arts Connect Incorporated, 2,000, Black Yarn Incorporated, 2,000, Lex Arts Incorporated, 4,500, 16 District PTA, Care of Stonewall PTA, $1,000 for the Office of the Urban County Council at a cost not to recede, the sum stated. And item 48, a resolution authorizing and direct demand on behalf of Urban County Government to execute an agreement related to the council capital project expenditure funds with Town Branch Park, Incorporated, $20,306 for the Office of the Urban County Council at a cost not to recede, the sum stated. Thank you. Thank you. Now, are there walk-ons? Council Member Lynch. Now, I think I'm ready. On behalf of the administration, I move to place on the docket under resolutions first reading, a resolution accepting the bid of JEM Properties Limited, DBA JEM Services, in the amount of $113,886 for the Detention Center Portable Classroom Building for the Department of General Services and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement in any other documents necessary with JEM Properties Limited doing business as JEM Services related to the bid. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Vice Mayor Wu seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Are there any other walk-ons? All right, will you go ahead, please, and give that first reading. Item 49, a resolution accepting a bid of JEM Properties Ltd, DBA JEM Services in the amount of $113,886 for the Detention Center Portable Classroom Building for the Department of General Services and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute an agreement in any other documents necessary with JEM Properties Ltd, DBA JEM Services related to the bid. Thank you. All right, thank you very much. Now, Council Member Boone? Did you- I was going to suspend the rules. Yes, it's time for that. Sorry, thank you. Thank you, Mayor. I move to suspend the rules and give second reading to resolution 33. This is an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to relocate, replace existing sanitary sewers for the Aphid's Way Winding Project. So moved. All right. Is the- Council Member Morton seconded. Is there any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Council Member Ellinger. Thank you, Mayor. As I said earlier, in lieu of the upcoming break, and our next council meeting won't be until April 17th, I make a motion that we suspend the rules and give second reading to all number 20 through 49. There are no budget schedules in these, so they all can be done. So moved. Second. All right, Council Member Curtis seconds. Any questions? All right. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, if you will please give all of those items second reading. Item 20, a resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of the county government to execute a second amendment to the sub-recipient agreement with Northern Kentucky Legal Aid Society, Incorporated DBA Legal Aid of the Bluegrass for the provision of housing stability services reallocating $667,796 in federal funds. Extending the period of reforms through September 30th, 2025, and further authorizing the mayor to execute any other amendments or agreements related to these funds. Item 21, a resolution authorizing and directing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute change number one to the stormwater incentive grant agreement with the First United Methodist Church of Lexington, Kentucky incorporated cancelling the stormwater quality project and decreasing the contract by the sum of $359,814 from $359,814 to $0. Item 22, a resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor on behalf of the county government to execute change number one to the agreement with Flotwag Incorporated for a repair of the centrifuge at the town branch wastewater treatment plant for the division of water quality increasing the contract price by the sum of $60,000 from $30,000 to $90,000, item 23. A resolution establishing Spec International as a sole source provider for the FEMA curriculum equivalent technical search specialist training program for the division of fire and emergency services and authorizing the mayor or her designee on behalf of the county government to execute any necessary agreement with Spec International related to the procurement of this service at a cost of $52,700, item 24. A resolution authorizing and directing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute and submit a grant application to the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 25 local law enforcement crime gun intelligence center integration initiative to provide any additional information in connection with this grant application. And to accept this grant if awarded, which grant funds are in the amount of $700,000, item 25. A resolution authorizing the division of police to purchase jet A aviation fuel from Signature Flight Air Incorporated, a sole source provider. And authorizing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute any necessary agreement with Signature Flight Air Incorporated related to the procurement at a cost not to exceed $1.10 per gallon depending on price fluctuations, item 26. A resolution authorizing the division of police to purchase aircraft storage, hangar, subleases, and office rental from Signature Flight Air Incorporated, a sole source provider. And authorizing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute any necessary agreement with Signature Flight Air Incorporated related to the procurement at a cost not to exceed $25,258.40, item 27. A resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Safe Street Task Force to delineate responsibilities, item 28. A resolution accepting the bid of JF Acquisitions, LLC, DBA, JF Petroleum Group in the amount of $56,424.70 for the fuel storage tank replacement for the Division of Environmental Services. And authorizing the mayor on behalf of the county government to execute an agreement with JF Acquisitions, LLC, DBA, JF Petroleum Group related to the bid, item 29. A resolution accepting the bid of CMN, RUS, LLC, DBA, Metronet in accordance with the provisions of ordinance number 69, 2016, creating and offering a franchise for the operation of a non-exclusive telecommunications or related non-cable system in Fayette County. And authorizing the mayor on behalf of every county government to execute a franchise agreement with CMN, RUS, LLC, DBA, Metronet, incorporating the terms and conditions of ordinance number 69, 2016, item 30. A resolution accepting the bid of BMI, LLC, DBA, BMI Builds in the amount of $186,888 for the LFD community paramedicine renovation for the Department of General Services. And authorizing the mayor on behalf of every county government to execute an agreement with BMI Bills related to the bid, item 31. A resolution to ratify the permanent classified civil service appointments of James Hess, Public Service Supervisor, grade 517N, 31.078, hourly in the Division of Streets and Roads, effective February 26th, 2025. Brendan Campbell, Program Specialist, grade 514N, 21.143, hourly in the Division of Environmental Services, effective March 6th, 2025, Aaron Daniel, Tribal Communicator, grade 517N, 23.952, hourly in the Division of Enhanced 9-1-1, effective March 24th, 2025. Shane Adcock, Telecommunicator, grade 517N, 23.473, hourly in the Division of Enhanced 9-1-1, effective March 23rd, 2025, Tim Anderson, Skilled Trade Worker, grade 515N, 24.118, hourly in the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management, effective March 16th, 2025, Lily Robertson, Recreation Manager, grade 520N, 29.568, hourly in the Division of Parks and Recreation, effective February 26th, 2025, Jacob Semanic, Public Service Worker Senior, grade 510N, 17.499, hourly in the Division of Parks and Recreation, effective February 26th, 2025, item 32. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor and Behavior of the County Government to execute the Engineering Services Agreement with UES Professional Solutions, 25 LLC, to allow the entity to assume the appraised contract with Geotechnology Incorporated, previously authorized by Resolution number 430, 2021, at no additional cost to the Urban County Government, item 33. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor and Behavior of the County Government to execute an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to reallocate, replace existing sanitary sewers for the Aphids Way widening project at no cost to the Urban County Government, item 34. A resolution authorizing the Mayor and Behavior of the County Government to amend four existing lease agreements with Crown Castle by adding one renewal term of five years to sell tower leases located in various park locations, item 35. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor and Behavior of the County Government to execute change from number five to the contract with W Principals, LLC, DBA, the Walker Company of Kentucky. The Town Branch RASWS Pump Station Improvements for the Division of Water Quality increase in the contract price by the sum of $19,700 from $3,109,669.98 to $3,129,369.98, item 36. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor and Behavior of the County Government to execute a multi-year agreement with Thomson Reuters West Publishing Corporation for a subscription to the Clear Government Background Investigation Database and Services for the Division of Revenue at a cost of exceeding $1,996.86. FY 2025, item 37. A resolution authorizing the Mayor and Behavior of the County Government to execute an agreement with Iowa's Here Incorporated to fund a public art project with funds from the Percent of Art Fund through the Public Arts Commission's Collaborative Grant Program in the amount not to exceed $51,323, item 38. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor and Behavior of the 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 $25,000 in federal funds and the 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to purchase smoke alarms, the acceptance of which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of $1,250 as a local matching authorizing the mayor to transfer adequate funds within the grant budget, item 39. A resolution authorizing the Mayor and Behavior of the County Government to execute an agreement RFP number 2225 with Tunnel Spangler and Associates, incorporated DVATSW for the Blue Sky Activity Center small area plan at a cost of exceed $486,000, item 40. A resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor and Behavior of the County Government to execute a grant agreement with the Central Kentucky Business Park Authority to assist with organization's startup expenses at a cost of exceed $60,000, item 41. A resolution authorizing the Mayor or her designee on behalf of the County Government to execute change order number one to the agreement with Terracon for special inspections associated with the new senior and therapeutic center construction, increasing the contract price by the sum of $15,320 from $34,985 to $50,305, item 42. A resolution approving the granting of an inducement to Lexair Incorporated or a successful or affiliate pursuant to the Kentucky Business Investment Act KRS Subchapter 154.32 whereby the Lexington Urban County Government agrees to rebate annually 1% of the company's occupational license fee for a term of no longer than ten years from the activation date subject to the limitations contained in the act in any agreement with the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority or the Urban County Government related to the project and taking other related action, item 43. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of the County Government to execute an agreement with the Institute of Police Technology and Management to host an occupant kinematics for the traffic crash reconstructionist training course at a cost to exceed $16,500, item 44. A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of the County Government to execute and submit a grant application to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kentucky Waste Tire Program to provide any additional information in connection with this grant application and to accept this grant if awarded which grant funds are in the amount of $8,065 in state funds. The acceptance of which obligates the Urban County Government to the expenditure of $2,016.25 is a local match and authorizing the Mayor to transfer adequate funds in the grant budget, item 45. A resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor on behalf of the County Government to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force for formalizing the relationship between the FBI and the juvenile probation and court services in the Division of Youth Services in order to maximize cooperation and create a cohesive unit and to delineate responsibilities and commitment of the FBI, JTTF, and juvenile probation and court services, item 46. A resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor on behalf of the County Government to execute an agreement with Child Neurology Education and Research Foundation Corporation related to the organization's incentive agreement under the job fund program at no additional cost to the Urban County Government, item 47. A resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor on behalf of the County Government to execute an agreement related to neighborhood development funds with Common Good Community Development Corporation, 554 Greater Garden Association Incorporated, 1,000 Allegro Dance Project Incorporated, 2350 African American Forum Incorporated, 1,500 Stonewall Equestrian Estates Associated Incorporated, 500. Blacks Call 311, 1,000, Black Male Working Academy Incorporated, 2,600, Golf US States Neighborhood Association Incorporated, 400, Community Inspired Lexington Incorporated, 750. Lexington Gay Services Organization Incorporated, 2,000, Community Inspired Lexington, 4,550. Old Paris Place Community LLC, 750. Partners for Youth Foundation Incorporated, 1,900, Arts Connect Incorporated, 2,000, Black Yarn Incorporated, 2,000, Lex Arts Incorporated, 4,500. 16th District PTA Care of Stonewall PTA, $1,000 for the Office of the Urban County Council, at a cost not to exceed the sum stated. Item 48, a resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute an agreement related to the Council Capital Project Expenditure Funds. With Town Branch Park Incorporated, $20,306 for the Office of the Urban County Council, at a cost not to exceed the sum stated. And item 49, a resolution accepting a bid of JEM Properties, LTD DBA JEM Services, in the amount of $113,886 for the Detention Center Probable Cost of Rebuilding for the Department of General Services, and authorizing Mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute an agreement and any other documents necessary with JEM Properties, LTD, DBA, JEM Services related to the bid. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. All right. All right, very good. And when you're ready, if you'll take a roll call vote, please. Council Member Lacrea? Yes. Council Member Lynch? Yes. Council Member Morton? Yes. Council Member Savigny? Yes. Vice Mayor Woo? Yes. Council Member Beasley? Yes, Ma'am. Council Member Boone? Yes, Ma'am. Council Member Brown? Yes. Council Member Curtis? Yes, Ma'am. Council Member Ellinger? Yes, Ma'am. Council Member Elliot Baxter? Yes. Council Member Gray? Yes. Council Member Hale? Yes, Ma'am. Thank you. All right. Thank you. All of those pass. Now we have communications from the mayor. First are appointments. If I could have a motion, please. Second. Council Member Gray, Vice Mayor, seconded. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That passes. Next are donations. Could I have a motion? Second. Thank you. Council Member Baxter and seconded by Council Member Curtis. Are there questions? All right. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. And the final communications from the mayor is procurements. Could I have a motion? Move for approval. Second. Council Member Savigny. Council Member Gray, seconds. Are there any questions? All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That passes. Council, you have communications from the mayor for your information only. We have no fire or police disciplines, so it's time for announcements. Vice Mayor Wu. Thank you, Mayor. This past Sunday and Wednesday, we had a couple of information sessions for our brand new Lexington's Preservation and Growth Management Program. They were big successes at two different library locations. The Lexington Public Library was really gracious to us to let us use both the Marksbury branch and the Eastside branch. I want to thank all of my colleagues, council members, and their aides who came out to the event to learn about our urban service area and our history of growth and development. And I particularly want to give a shout out and thanks to my legislative aide, Torrey, and our public information officer, Jillian, for their help putting together these events. And of course, our manager of long-range planning, Hal Bailey, for his presentation. Colleagues, you will hear quite a bit about this program in this coming year, both in the General Government and Planning Committee and also through other conversations and other meetings as well as other public engagement sessions that we're going to hold. So I hope if you're not as excited about it as I am right now, I hope to get you excited in this year. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Lynch. Thank you, Mayor. I have a few announcements before we go on recess. The first being happening the first weekend in April, April the 5th, the Lions run for site 5K. As you know, the second district is the 5K race capital of Lexington. We are having a beautiful 5K race. The Lions Club is in Matching Station Park on April the 5th, Saturday at 9 a.m. So please come out and run for a good cause. Also happening the same day on April the 5th, I'd like to let my neighbors know that there will be a Matching Station Creek cleanup on that morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. So please come out where the neighborhood is partnering with Blue Grass Green Source. So please come out once again to clean our creek and keep our neighborhood beautiful. And then lastly, don't forget this weekend, neighbors, in Coldstream Park, Live Green Lexington is having hot chocolate and a bike ride. It will be taking place at 5.30 p.m. right there in the park. So please come out this weekend. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. And thank you, LexTV, for pulling that up. I promised a young lady by the name of Stephanie Milan that I would give her a public shout out. Stephanie is a resident of District 1 and also is an 8th grader at SCAPA. She placed first in the entire state of Kentucky in drawing. She drew, next picture, a picture of her dog, Billy. She's an 8th grade, you all. She's an 8th grade. Such a gifted young lady who deserves the praise, the public praise. So Stephanie, kudos, great job. Keep drawing. I am so proud of you. Keep it up. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Morton. Thank you, Mayor. So first, I would like to, well, I'll start with that picture. So I had the honor of being at Bryan Station High School this week in the 6th District with a lot of my first district constituents to go to. This week I had the privilege of being a guest speaker of the JAG class at Bryan Station High School. I shared my journey in public service, discussed leadership, and encouraged students to take an active role in shaping their communities. Their energy and curiosity were inspiring, and I look forward to seeing these young leaders grow. And that was the class right there. Moving on, likewise, this week I also met with the Chronic Pain Support Group. We had eye-opening conversations about struggles they face. While we often focus on disability rights, it is critical to also recognize those living with chronic pain. Their needs are just as important, and we should continue to advocate for them as well. Those are a couple members of the Chronic Pain Support Group. Let's see. One of the most important ones for today. So I'm happy to continue the Hunger Doesn't Take a Spring Break. So as spring break approaches, I recognize that food insecurity doesn't take a spring break. That's why I'm proud to continue the Hunger Doesn't Take a Spring Break initiative, ensuring that children in District 1 and throughout the city have access to nutritious meals while school is out. So our mission is to provide a daily hot meal in backpacks with snacks and non-perishable items to those children. Each day they'll be able to come get a new meal and get their backpacks refilled so they can eat throughout the evening and then come back, like I said, the next day. So this is going to take place April 7th through the 11th from 1130 to 1 p.m. We have six locations, five of them with youth programming. The first, Whitney Young Park, the next, Douglas Park, Dunbar Center, Charles Young Center, MLK Park, and Green Acres Park. And I want to give a shout out and a special thanks to our sponsors. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the organizations, the individuals making this initiative possible. First and foremost, the colleagues that helped support this, Blue Grass Community Foundation, Visit Lex, American Water Foundation, CHI St. Joseph Health Care, Lexington Leadership Foundation, Hallway Feeds, Traditional Bank, Community Inspired Lexington, V's Catering, Chef Lee's Private Kitchen, and our District 1 Neighborhood Associations who are volunteering. So with that being said, there's a couple more that may be added to this list and I look forward to adding to it. Your generosity ensures that children in our community receive not only meals, but also a sense of stability during this break. So I want to give a special thank you to you. And my only ask is if any of my colleagues want to volunteer at one of these parks one of those days, just for an hour or two, please let me know. Anybody listening? And that is the main ask, just volunteers. And then lastly, this weekend, the third cohort of the Neighborhood Healers Mental Health First Responders graduated from their fellowship, and I was honored to actually be part of that cohort. Through this program, I've gained skills as a first responder in mental health crisis. Our mission is to destigmatize mental health, offer support, and enhance the well-being of marginalized communities in Lexington and surrounding counties. So Neighborhood Healers is an essential initiative, amplifying the importance of mental health and awareness and ensuring that individuals in need have access to care and support that they deserve. And I appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Curtis. Thank you, Mayor. So as some of you may or may not know, tomorrow is a significant day for the 4th District. It is Spartan Day at Southern Middle School. I'm looking forward to spending my day with our wonderful young folks there and with their teachers and staff and getting to celebrate their pride of place. I believe we have a video that will be shared with the students tomorrow, but I thought it would be nice to go on and share it here with y'all too. So good morning, Southern Middle School. My name is Emma Curtis, and I'm the Council Member for the 4th District here in Lexington, and I'm proud to represent you and your school on the Lexington-Fayette-Urban County Council. Today is such a special day, and I'm so grateful to y'all for having me here to celebrate Spartan Day with you. This is a moment for us to look around, look at the things that make this place so remarkable, and to have genuine and sincere pride for our school and for our city. I'm so grateful to each and every one of you for showing up every day, for demonstrating academic excellence, for demonstrating kindness to your friends and to your neighbors, and for showing everyone around us what Lexington values. And so with that in mind, I want to read a special proclamation on behalf of myself, Mayor Gorton, Vice Mayor Wu, and the entire Lexington-Fayette-Urban County Council. Whereas, Southern Middle School, built in 1966, has an outstanding faculty and staff led by Principal Kevin Payne, and whereas over 750 terrific 6th, 7th, and 8th graders attend Southern, and whereas the mission of Southern Middle School is to provide all students with high levels of academic instruction while developing strong character and independence, and whereas Southern is a neighborhood school, uniting staff, faculty, parents, and students into one family that works together to ensure that students are successful, and whereas Southern has an award-winning PTSA that supports the mission of the school, and whereas Southern's colors are blue and red, and its mascot is the Spartans, and whereas like the ancient Greek Spartans, Southern Middle School Spartans are brave, disciplined, and courageous, and whereas Spartan Day is a new tradition, established in 2022, that celebrates pride in Southern Middle School, therefore, I, Linda Gorton, Mayor of Lexington, do hereby declare March 23rd Spartan Day in Lexington. Thank you all so much for having me here today, and happy Spartan Day. So thank you again for issuing that proclamation back a couple years ago, Mayor, and I'm looking forward to celebrating with all of our folks over there tomorrow. I also want to give a quick shout out to Kyle Gerard and James Mason, who are a couple of 4th District residents who have volunteered their service to our Environmental Commission and were appointed tonight. I'm grateful for them and looking forward to seeing the work that they do over there. I'd also like to thank the Pinnacle Homeowners Association, who invited me and hosted me at their most recent meeting this past week, and we had a lot of good discussions, especially around projects that are coming up in Veterans Park, and I'm looking forward to continuing working with them. And finally, just ahead of our first recess, since I was sworn into office, I want to take a moment and express my gratitude to all of my colleagues here, all of the constituents and neighbors in the 4th District who've reached out to my office and raised their concerns, provided suggestions, feedback, and helped us do the work of the people. I'm so grateful for everybody who sits around this horseshoe and the kindness and the guidance, the grace and support y'all have shown me since I was sworn in here. As many of y'all know, I've spent a lot of time sitting on the other side of this horseshoe, and it was just a couple years ago, just over two years ago, when I spoke in this chamber for the first time. And at that point, it was unimaginable to me that I could see somebody who looked like me and had my lived experiences sitting on this side of the horseshoe. It means more than I can put into words, that the people of the 4th District have put their trust in me to represent them up here. And I'm very proud of the fact that as well, since I've been sworn in, I have been able to look out beyond this horseshoe and see young folks, see trans folks, see people who don't necessarily always see themselves represented up on the horseshoe, to be able to see them in the audience and know that they have a future in this field as well. So, thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council members, we have two people signed up for public comment for issues not on the agenda, and the way this works is I'll call your name and you'll come to the podium, and you'll need to restate your name for the record as well as your council district, and you'll have three minutes. So, first is Chuck Eddy, followed by Phoenix Berry. Welcome. Howdy, folks. My name's Chuck Eddy. I'm in Emma Curtis' district, the 4th District. I don't know if we have a nickname or a sports team or anything, but I'll say the Cats. Sorry. The reason I'm here tonight is this is the first council meeting since we had three gun deaths in less than a week. It's even touched some of the people on the council personally. I'm concerned. I'm part of Moms Demand Action. I'm the local lead here in Lexington. Three gun deaths translates to 156 in an annual trend. We can't have that. I want to mention that we have a Be Smart program. It's basically a program to help educate people on how to do safe, secure gun storage. Among other places, we're going to be at the Survivors Walk on April 26th. We're going to participate with the Fayette County Schools at their back to school bashes. What we do is we have a short program, 15 minute program, where we go through some of the things and how to educate people. We also give out gun locks and we have those available. It's an important way to get ahead of the problem. Most gun deaths are suicides and about a third of them are homicides. When people get a hold of a gun and they're in the fog or it's just an accident, once it's fired, you can't unfire it. I want to encourage you all that if there are meetings in your districts, we were just over at Joseph Hale's district, thank you for us being over there. We were really just observing, but we can come to your meetings in the districts and make that a part of it. Now this is something we present to adults, even though we're going to be at the back to school bashes, that's to approach the adults because they're the ones who control whether the guns are safely stored or not. I have a friend of mine in our group, a survivor, couple of kids playing, found the gun stored securely up on top of a shelf. It was not stored securely, got it down, played with it, shot their friend. Anyway, we're available as a resource. Emma has all my contact information. Again, I'm Chuck Eddy with Moms Demand Action. We want to do everything we can to help reduce gun violence. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next is Phoenix Berry. Welcome. Hi, my name is Phoenix. My pronouns are they, them, and I'm a constituent of the 6th district. Today, I wanted to talk a little bit about courage. The textbook definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens one, and to have strength in the face of pain and or grief. Personally, growing up low income, queer, housing unstable, and misdiagnosed, I knew something was kind of off about this world that I was in. But it turns out maybe there's not anything wrong with the world, it's just that this world isn't made for me. Or I'm in a world that doesn't want to see me alive. And I feel like because of that, and even though that is my lived reality, I still find strength in being able to do things in spite of. I didn't have the chance to explore things like politics and law and all those types of things until I got older and followed my passion, which is to be able to make change. And then I found my way here in front of you all. I remember being actively dissuaded and even to this day, I've had people tell me that I'm too hopeful and that I'll never be able to make change because things are the way that they are. I personally believe that that is not true, and that I will always continue to fight in my own unique way, and advocate for people that are like me and unlike me. I believe in being the change that you want to see in this world. And I believe that that takes courage, I feel like it takes a lot of courage. Especially when you have a lot of odds that are stacked against you. So I implore you, just as a person, a human being, to have courage and to fight for people that are like you and unlike you. And I want to highlight the and part. And I think that means recognizing you're all's direct power that you have and the privilege that you all have to be sitting in the seats that you're in. To be able to have the resources and I guess the contacts or however else you do it, to be able to help make the change with the people that don't have those necessary resources or those same resources. A lot of people are scared and a lot of people are uneducated about what's going on. And I think it's very important to fight back, especially in your all's unique positions. Because I would like to end this off with, is teamwork is the dream work. Thank you. All right, council members, that brings us to the end of our meeting. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. All right, all those in favor, say aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you all for being here.