♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Hello everyone. It is 3 o'clock, so I'll go ahead and call to order the Lexington Fayette-Urban County Council Work Session. It is March 10th, 2026, and the first item on our agenda is public comment for issues on the agenda. And it looks like we do not have anyone signed up, so we do have a docket, if I could have a motion to approve. So moved. Council Member Svigny, seconded by Council Member Curtis. Are there any issues for the docket? Anything at all? All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Thank you. We have the March 3rd, 2026 Work Session Table of Motions. If I could have a motion. Motion approved. Second. Thank you, Council Member Ellinger. Second by Council Member Curtis. Are there any corrections or additions? All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. We do have budget amendments today, if I could have a motion. Second. Thank you, Council Member Sheehan. I think I heard Council Member Baxter second. Now, if you have questions about the amendments, please log in. All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Thank you. You do have some for your information only budget adjustments, and that brings us to new business. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Thank you, Council Member Baxter. Second by Vice Mayor Wu. Please log in if you have questions. Council Member Ellinger. Thank you, Mayor. Number L, as in Lexington, with the courthouse, you sent an e-mail, but could you kind of go through with the roof improvement here? Yes, Council Member. Good afternoon, Council. We have good news to share, actually. The replacement of the roofs at the Robert F. Franklin Courthouse, that's both the district courthouse and the circuit courthouse, have been on our capital improvement planning schedule. The Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort has awarded LFUCG approximately $4.17 million towards that project cost. And what we have on the agenda, asking Council's approval, is for us to execute a memorandum of understanding to that effect. That will allow us to move forward with the reconstruction of the project to be completed by June 30, 2027. We have a cost estimate. One thing that I think is really important that allows us this good fortune is that we technically have a shovel-ready project. In a previous year budget, we allocated $150,000 to go towards the design. That allows us to have a third-party cost estimation of approximately $3.7 million. In addition to that is an owner's contingency. So that reflects the $4.17 million that the Administrative Office of the Court has provided for us. What we're asking for as part of the budget amendments is to set up this project with a budget of $4.5 million. And that should cover any and all contingencies that it may cover. Council Member, we feel really confident that there is a good chance that we'll be able to complete this project under the $4.17 million that the AOC has awarded us. And last but not least, if that stands true, all of those project expenses would be returned to the Capital Reserve by the time the project is completed 15 months from now. That's good news. And in your email you also talked about the others. You've been gradually working on roof improvements. Yes, Council Member. We've had great success. And that's at the Detention Center, the County Clerk Building, Police Headquarters, Pamela Downtown Arts Center, Dunbar Community Center, Black and Williams Center, Valley Park Community Center. So our project team has been really busy with these roof projects. And I want to thank the administration and the Council, is that collectively we spent quite a bit in regards to those. I think I have it here in my file somewhere. But we feel real confident we'll be able to add this project, the courthouse roofs, to our list of success. Thank you. And that was good news. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Sheehan. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to ask about Item G. I think that might be with Commissioner Armstrong. Welcome. Thank you. It's hard to see back in that corner. I couldn't tell who was quite back there. I just wanted to ask if you could give us a very quick overview of how these funds are used. I know that it says to improve safety within our transportation network and reduce fatalities, minimize injuries. So could you give us a little bit more information? I'm Darren Salyer, Commander of Central Sector. So Kentucky Transportation Cabinet actually puts the goals and objectives out for this. So this really focuses on impaired driving, occupant protection, which is seat belts, so day and night, and police traffic services for areas where, like, speeding and stuff like that. And it also provides for our Collision Reconstruction Unit to attend training and advanced training. Great. Thank you very much. I know we talked a lot about related enforcement and education in our Street Safety Task Force, and I know we've gotten grants similar to this in the past. So I appreciate you giving us that information. Absolutely. Thanks. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Vice Mayor Wu. Thank you, Mayor. Commissioner Ford, I have a follow-up question about Item L as well, the courthouse roof. If everything gets approved in a timely fashion, what's the timeline for when the project would begin and end? The project is going to commence immediately. We will work with procurement to put out the bid, to advertise the construction bid. We plan to receive those back in a few weeks. We'll award that construction bid, and then we will start construction here later this spring. This project is going to be complicated because, as we all know, the courthouse has to continue normal operations as best it can while we're doing this. Our completed date is estimated to be June 30, and we negotiated that with the Administrative Office of the Courts, and that's reflected in the MOU, June 30, calendar 2027. 27, okay. Yes, sir. I was thinking two months. That's pretty good. And then following on that, so you mentioned that because this is a, and I think this is great that we have this funding, but because it's monthly reimbursements, we're going to kind of front the money from our council, from the capital fund. Is that correct? That is correct. Do you have a sense, I'm just trying to think of how much of that gets tied up at once? I know these are monthly reimbursements, which is great because they're not waiting until the end of the project to give us the whole thing. So how much and how long will those kind of funds be tied up? And I see Commissioner Henson is lurking. The budget amendment is also on today's agenda. So once that is, if that is approved by the council, that would take effect two weeks from now. That would commit and obligate the entire $4. million to this project. So those dollars would be there for the project. We are going to work with the firm that's selected for the construction bid, and we're going to try our very best to have them agree to timely draws. Submit timely pay requests on their work. That would allow us to get the information down to Frankfort to draw on reimbursements and allow Commissioner Hensley and her team to then replenish the capital reserve funds as dollars come back from Frankfort to Lexington. Okay. So once it's approved, we're putting aside the $4. 5 basically to this project, and then every month we'll expect a certain amount replenishing it. Is that correct? That is correct. And at project completion, our intent is for the full amount to be returned to the capital reserve account. Gotcha. Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you, Mayor. All right. Thank you. All right. All those in favor of approving new business, please say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? Thank you. That passes. We do have communications from the mayor. First are appointments. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Council Member Curtis seconds. Any questions? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. The next communications from the mayor is donations. We do have donations. It's approved. Second. Thank you, Council Member Reynolds, Council Member Curtis. Any questions? All those in favor, please 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? So moved. Second. Council Member Savigny, seconded by Council Member Curtis. Any questions about that one? All right. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. That passes. This brings us to continuing business. And we have the General Government and Planning Committee. And I'll ask Council Member Sheehan to give that report. Thank you, Mayor. The February 10, 2026, General Government and Planning Committee was called to order at 1 p.m. The January 20, 2026, meeting summary was unanimously approved. For the first presentation, the committee received an update on the Blue Sky Small Area Plan from Senior Planner Eve Miller. The 301-acre Blue Sky Activity Center supports about 150 businesses and over 1,000 jobs. Staff have completed the analysis of existing conditions, the market review, and public outreach. Discussion focused on infrastructure needs, including electrical reliability, Internet capacity, lighting, and safety at the I-75 interchange, as well as modernization of industrial zoning regulations. Draft recommendations will move forward to the Planning Commission as part of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. The committee then received a presentation from Lexington Leadership Foundation CEO Christian Postel on behalf of a working group that performed a year-long analysis of LFUCG-operated community and neighborhood centers. The working group emphasized the importance of centers as civic infrastructure while noting inconsistencies in staffing, programming, and resources. Recommendations included adopting minimum standards through a community-centered promise, developing a shared performance dashboard, streamlining partnerships, and strengthening communication and safety protocols. The meeting adjourned at 2.12 p.m., and that concludes my report. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you very much. Does anyone have questions for Councilmember Sheehan? All right, thank you. That brings us to Council Reports. Councilmember Reynolds. Thank you, Mayor. I just would like to place in Social Services and Public Safety an update on Youth Services. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Councilmember Lynch. Thank you, Mayor. I have a few announcements for my District 2 neighbors. There are several St. Patrick's Day events happening at the Black & Williams Gymnasium this coming-up week, and they are all free and open to the community, and snacks will be provided. There will be bingo, St. Patrick's Day bingo, on Monday, March 16th at 11.30 a.m. and at 6 p.m. There's also a movie day on Tuesday, March 17th at 3.30 p.m. The film is called Luck of the Irish, so please come out for that. In addition, don't forget about all of the many free fitness activities that take place in the gym. There's line dancing. There's Zumba. There's impact that are free and open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. And then also, I would like to play a short video. We had a great public safety meeting in District 2 last week, and there's a really cool initiative that I want my neighbors to know about. So, you can go ahead and play the video, please. And for free, and they'll come and install it. Hello, neighbors. I'm here with one of our amazing firefighters, Firefighter Houston. He's going to tell us a little bit about their smoke alarm program. Did you know you could get a smoke alarm from our fire department for free, and they'll come and install it? Tell my neighbors about the program, please. So, smoke alarms are only good for 10 years. They may beat back you when you replace the alarm, but the smell and the smoke, it's no guarantee it's going to do it after that 10-year point. Here in Lexington, we have a free smoke alarm program through the fire department. If you call the number, 859-231-5662, you can set up an appointment. We come out to your house. We bring the alarms. We do the install. It takes 5 to 10 minutes. We make sure there's one in every bedroom, one outside each sleeping area, and one in every level change, as if your house was built today, and it's all totally free. That is really awesome. So, I know you all have put some in the homes of my council district. Are there some other ones that you want to target coming up soon? Yes. So, we get a grant from the federal government every year, $25,000. Last year's grant was for the Georgetown Corridor, and we have about 75, 76 alarms left out of that grant we still need to install. Now, when those are installed, we still have other ones that we can come and put in. We just have to finish up that grant in a certain amount of time. So, we just need to get those 76 in. So, if you live along the Georgetown Corridor, call that number. We'll come at it so everything's totally free. It's not a big fire truck. It's two of us in a pickup truck or a van. Like I said, it takes five or ten minutes, and we're in and out. Thank you so much. And you all, last year they let me come with them to install the smoke alarms, and it's really quick, really easy, and they're in and out. So, it's something that you definitely want to have in your home, especially if your smoke alarm is very, very old. Thank you so much. You're very welcome. And I would just like to emphasize again to my neighbors, if you live along the Georgetown Road Corridor, and that's from Raleigh to Kearney Ridge, you can contact the fire department to have your smoke alarm, your new smoke alarm installed, and they have 76 that they're trying to get rid of so they can finish out their grant. So, please contact our fire department and get your new smoke alarm. And then lastly, neighbors, don't forget, on April 22nd, our next district-wide meeting will be taking place at the STEAM Academy at 6 p.m. Thanks so much, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Hale. Thank you, Mayor. Our office has teamed up with Council Member Sheehan's office and LFUCG's Community and Resident Services to schedule a Tenants and Landlords Rights and Responsibilities Workshop on this Monday, March 16th, at 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. Lexington Leadership Foundation has been kind enough to provide space at the Woodhill Community Center at 422 Codell Drive. This will be a great opportunity for tenants and landlords in Fayette County to be informed and educated on their housing rights and responsibilities. The program will consist of short presentations from the partnering agencies, followed by plenty of time for Q&A with each of them. The workshop is hosted by LFUCG Community and Resident Services in partnership with Fayette District Judges, the Kentucky Fair Housing Council, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, LFUCG's Code Enforcement, and the Human Rights Commission. So I encourage neighbors to come out on Monday, March 16th, at the Woodhill Center at 6.30 to 8.30. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Morton. Thank you, Mayor. I have a couple of pictures that will come up. So last Monday, we celebrated the grand reopening of the Dunbar Community Center, and it was truly a proud moment for our community. Community centers like Dunbar Center are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods, places where young people find mentorship, families access programs and resources, and neighborhoods and neighbors come together to build relationships. When we invest in spaces like this, we're investing in opportunity, investing in connection, and investing in long-term strength of our community. These kinds of investments are not optional. They are essential to ensuring that every neighborhood has support and spaces that it needs to thrive. And I just wanted to thank the administration and all involved for making this happen and putting this investment forward. And then also last week, I had the privilege of speaking with the Liuna Local 189, and I just wanted to thank them for the important work they do for their members and for our community. Labor unions have long been a backbone of the American workforce, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job. The work they do, do not only support their members, but it supports and strengthens our entire city, our local economy, and the stability of working families. And then lastly, this last Friday, I had the opportunity to spend some time with Crawford Magnet School students, helping them prepare for their Ron Clark Amazing Shake competition. They'll soon be going to Atlanta and be in a competition pretty much nationwide. So watching these young leaders practice communication, professionalism, and confidence was incredibly inspiring. They are representing Lexington on a national stage, and I know they will do their very best and make us proud. So thank you. Thank you very much. That brings us to public comment for issues not on the agenda. And we have one person signed up, so the way this works is when I call your name, you'll come to the podium and you'll need to restate your name for the record and say your council district, and you'll have three minutes. Brittany Rothmeyer. Welcome. Thank you, Mayor and members of the council. I don't typically do this, but I wanted to take a couple of minutes to make comments on the solar proposals that were discussed previously in the GGP meeting. I appreciate Council Member Sheehan's ultimate decision not to push further with an early report out of this issue, although admittedly, I was confused why that would be advocated for. And I'm glad the Rural Land Management Board and the Environmental Commission will have time to review and weigh in on this, and again, why they weren't included to begin with still I don't know has been fully explained. But I did want to note in the record that the solar work group that was made up of the four council members that met did so for six months over the course of multiple meetings. They're now asking the Rural Land Management Board, the Environmental Commission, and the rest of the community to issue their review. For those two boards, it sounds like in one meeting, and asking the public to weigh in over the course of three-minute intervals on a single date at a public hearing, at the Planning Commission, and then possibly again at the council. Fade Alliance, over the last 20 years, has been an active stakeholder in so many work groups and subcommittees. We've taken part in design standard discussions, affordable housing task forces, neighborhoods in transition, infill and redevelopment committee, and we were actively engaged with the Preservation and Growth Management Program, and I spoke at this microphone just a few weeks ago to thank you all for the transparent and collaborative work that that took to get us where we are now. We've seen at Fade Alliance over the course of the years what good faith efforts look like, even when we disagree with the outcome, and we've been vocal about that as well. Taking part in processes like that is enormously different than going through a ZOTA process and engaging that way, which we've certainly done as well. Asking individuals and other commissions and boards to weigh in through the ZOTA process isn't robust public or stakeholder engagement. It allows for brief comments, not discussions on complex topics. Work groups and subcommittees are where community discussions and digging deeper into an issue happens. It's the opportunity to gather info to educate other council members and the public. The work group that was formed on large-scale solar didn't provide that opportunity. The meetings were not open to the public. The summaries of the meetings didn't clearly identify all of the groups they invited to present or why. I want to put on the record questions that have been raised over the last two years that have still not been addressed. The way the ZOTA process operates tells us that these questions likely won't be answered in a way where they'll be actually discussed. These aren't flippant questions. They're complex, nuanced ones that are based on research gathered from all over the country, namely from communities who have actually experienced what we're talking about today. How does large-scale solar and ag areas align with the Rural Land Management Plan and the Comp Plan? How do we clearly and directly benefit from it and under what circumstances? How does it impact our specific net zero goals and calculations? What long-term financial benefits, including jobs and tax revenue, does it provide? I would ask for just 30 more seconds, Mayor, if that would be permissible. Council, what's your privilege? Motion approved. All right, is there a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor of extending 30 seconds, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? No. No. All right. Let's do a hand count. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Aye. So we can see. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. All those opposed? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. 11 to 4. You'll have 30 more seconds. Thank you, Mayor. That is a little bit alarming as well. State County's top three ag products are horses, cattle, and crops. How will those operators be impacted by these policies? What impact does large-scale solar have on surrounding properties, residential neighborhoods, and other agricultural land and operations? How would enforcement of agricultural production work on a dual-use property? Those questions could be answered by research and informed by the people that live it every day. Policies affecting farmland should reflect the knowledge and perspectives of the people who work it, depend on it, and care about its future. When everyone's invited at the table, we're far more likely to reach solutions that balance environmental progress with the protection of one of Lexington and Fayette County's most valuable and irreplaceable resources. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Is there a motion to adjourn? So moved. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you all for coming. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.