# General Government & Planning (GGP) Committee - October 6, 2026 > Auto-transcribed civic record · Committee · October 6, 2026 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/6899 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/6899?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2026-10-06 - **Body**: Committee - **Last revised**: October 6, 2026 - **Length**: 6,889 words - **Speakers**: Chair, Mayor > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** The transcript on this page is the Granicus stenographer's live closed-captioning track, captured at the time of broadcast (typos and broken sentences common). Speaker labels come from the same track. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude Sonnet. Verbatim wording and speaker attribution may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Full transcript on our agenda for today, it is a little bit of a light agenda, but I will remind you that we have our committee of the whole meeting tonight around data centers and that is one of our items in committee. So time wise we are going to be spending a lot of time today in items in ggp. We have beth overman here today who is our director of our pdr program, purchase of development rights and I want to welcome you to the podium to give your presentation. >> thank you. Okay. I will go ahead and get started here. So the purchase of development rights is housed under commissioner horn and the department of planning preservation and centered by me beth overman, the pdr program is governed by the rural land management board which has 13 voting members and three non-voting members and is chaired by gloria martin, who is also here today council member morton serves as the council representatives to the board and council member boone regularly attends our monthly board meetings as well as his aid olivia so thank you for the time that they commit. The rural land management board is comprised of representatives of the organizations that served on the implementation board that formed the program. With the two couple appointed seats and council member seats added in 21. The organizations represented on our board are the fayette county neighborhood council, two fayette county farm bureau seats. The bluegrass realtors, the building industry association of central kentucky, commerce lexington, two council appointed seats, a historic preservation representative, two kentucky thoroughbred representatives, a land conservation group representative and visitlex. The non-voting are an urban county council member and fayette county cooperative cooperative extension agent as well as the usda natural resources conservation service that I will refer to as nrcs, and they are the once ones who have the funding program that we utilize for our match funding. So our new pdr and small farm easements. So we have 13 easements purchased this calendar year, including our first small farm easement and we had nine of those. And I had these big maps at your chairs, if you would like to look at those. As I read these. I'll start with the pdr farms and I'm going to round on the acreage to just two digits. So farm 3-2024 at 3860 lemons mill pike is 29 acres, farm 1-2025 is 46 acres. Farm 2-2024 on old frankfort pike is 92 acres. Farm 4-2024 on ferguson road is 30 acres and then we get into our small farms. So small farm 4-2025 ajaks creek pike is 11 acres, small farm 20-2024 on wal hill pike is 10 acres. Small farm 1-2025 on old richmond road is 12 acres. Small farm 33-2025 on jacks creek pike is 11 acres. Small farm 37-2025 on jacks creek pike is also 11 acres. Small farm 15-2025 on old richmond road is 10 acres. And small farm 16-2025 on day mar drive is 10 acres and small farm 7-2025 on crawley lane is 16 acres. That brings the total to approximately 2 9 acres, almost 300 acres, the total conserved acreage is 33,595. And so our pending and small farm easements. So we have eight farms under contract. So they, there are six of those are pdr. They range in acreage from 25-98 acres and then we have two small farms at 10 acres each. And so that's a total of nearly 386 acres under contract. Our new and pending pdr applications. So the nrcs grant deadline is generally DECEMBER 31. This year they moved it to SEPTEMBER 25 and then we had about six weeks notice. So we quickly advertised for the pdr program in early AUGUST and set a deadline of SEPTEMBER 2 and then had to turn our federal application in by SEPTEMBER 25. We were worried, would we get any? And we got 10 great ones. So they're listed here as well as three from last year that have the same owner that are working through some title issues. It has been handed down through the family and they're really old deeds and so they're working that out. But these farms range in acreage from 20 to 669. Which is exciting and three of these were 100 acres or more which was also kind of -- we have been having some smaller ones as you saw on the closing numbers so this was exciting to get some of the bigger farms. So nearly 1,000 acres in new applications. So that's really exciting. Our unsuccessful and continuing applications. Pdr ordinance requires we report all unsuccessful applications. So pdr farm 10-2025 owned by sean and kristin foley and located at 521 jacks creek pike received a written offer to purchase an easement and declined. They didn't provide an answer. I think they just changed their mind. And then 26 of the 37 small farm applicants could not proceed due to inability to obtain a mortgage subordination or location in the ab zone or no active farming or failure to obtain their kentucky ag water quality plan. The ab zone issue was resolved by you all this summer through amendments. Thank you for that. Those applicants can reapply to the program and hopefully move forward. All remaining applicants will stay in the queue for consideration in future cycles. And some of those -- like we had two last year that could not get the preliminary subordination lender from -- mortgage subordination from their lender but kept working on them and have them now and will be able to proceed with the new crop. Our summary and next steps. In our completed applications or completed tasks, we have 13 easements purchased this calendar year, including the first small farm easements. 318 easements total in the pdr and small farm programs. 33,595 total acres conserved. And in our pending, the staff is working with 21 applicant farms in various stages of acquisition. And this includes our active pdr farms that we discussed that are just went on the application and that are under contract. Out there. So these amount indications total approximately -- applications total approximately 1275 acres and were submitted on our nrks application for matching funds and nrcs has thus far funded 177 of our easements. So well over half. So our next steps. Our 2026 small farm application deadline is NOVEMBER 2. Postcards were mailed to over 1,000 potentially eligible farm owners in AUGUST. That will -- we are expecting a big response. Board member jim coleman hosted a webinar for the royster road and briar hill neighborhood association on SEPTEMBER 14 and gloria and I also attended that to answer questions. And so that was a good event. And council member boone is advertising the application cycle through his social media and newsletter. So a robust applicant pool is expected. And then instead of -- let's see, haley, will you put up that map? I'm just going to make a few comments about the 3457 before we take questions. -- about the map before we take questions. Haley is going to display that for us. So if we start on the left, you can see pdr farm 2-2024 old frankfort pike. You can see how much acreage that we have on old frankfort pike, which is fayette county's only american byway and one of the only american byways in kentucky, I believe. So that's really neat. I remember when we received the the americanby way designation several years ago, that we calculated our acreage at that time than and it was over 2,000 acres conserved just on old frankfort pike. So that's really neat. And then going up on around the map, farm 3-2024, you can see how that filled in a puzzle piece in a very large area of conserved farmland. And then around next starm 4-2024, you can see that that connected an area above and below and then we will seek out the two that are beside that one and try to get those so we can fill in that white space. And then farm 1-2025, you can see it connected an area to the right and to the left of conserved farmland which is really great. That's always our goals when we are able to fill in those missing pieces. And then down at the bottom, you see our small farms. And like right under the I-75 maker, you see that one. That actually, it was a 10-acre carved out of a pdr farm that was put in many years ago, that they conserved out in case they needed to sell the farm phenomenonly but they wanted to still live there. That was filled in and on old richmond road, small farm 20-2025, you can see it filled in a big area and that owner placed her 30-acre farm in pdr a year ago and they be put her 10 acres in this time and at the bottom, one neat thing is small farm 4-2025 and 33-2025 and 37-2025 are all adjacent and so that created a 30-acre block with our 10 acres. So that was really neat and started a new area of conserved farmland. So it's all very good news. And that concludes my report and I will be happy to take questions. >> colleagues go ahead and sign in if you have questions or comments. Council member elliot-baxter. >> thank you, chair. >> thank you, beth for your presentation. I know after covid we had quite the backlog of pending properties so I'm really excited to see all of those have finally closed. I know you have been working hard. So thank you. >> thank you. >> I know that we have -- I'm not going call it a restriction, but we really only focus on domestically owned farms because of the federal match. >> yes. >> and I know that a certain farm that we have kind of had our eyes on for a while is going to be up for auction at the end of OCTOBER. And I'm just curious if have you had any conversations with that listing agent or anybody that might be, you know, involved in that transaction, just about the potential of the farm going pdr? It MAY be a selling point so I'm just curious. >> yes, so I haven't personally but I believe some of our board members and former board members have. And everyone is watching that and anxiously hoping that it will be someone who is interested in placing it in pdr. And our federal partners were excited about that. >> great. >> I just wanted to make that point and hopefully we can snack that one now. >> thank you so much for your hard work. >> thank you. >> vice mayor wu. >> thank you, chair. Thank you MS. Overman for your presentation and your work managing this many practice. Looking at the map, all the different colors and there is one category I'm curious about. The conservation easement by others. Can you tell me a little bit more about what that means? Who others are and then if you have a total acreage of that category, that would be helpful. >> okay, yes. So that is primarily the bluegrass land conservancy. And they take donated easements. They really are not focusing on fayette county anymore. If someone just really needs to donate for tax purposes, they work with them. But they're not pursuing those. But they have -- I think it's around 2500 acres in fayette county and then it also includes the floor cliff nature sanctuary which has a conservation easement on it. >> great. Thank you for that. When you were going through some of the properties that were rejected from the program. And I think you said some of them were not active farms. >> yes. >> do we keep track of or inventory like how many either properties, farms, businesses or acres are not currently being used for active farming? >> not really. So the difference -- the reason that's a criteria. So with pdr you do not have to be farming. 99% are because they want to make money off that large area of land. But you do not have to be. With the small farms, we didn't want to get into situations where someone with a 10-acre estate put their farm in here. So farming is a requirement so that is one of the criteria for the. >> for the smaller farms they're active to be smaller forms-of-farms but the large ares ones are not? >> it's really not an issue. Throughout my many years here, I've maybe seen one or two fat are not farming in pdr. And sometimes you see a situation, like one we just had apply with pdr. She is older. Her husband died several years ago. They used to do cattle. She has not been able to and so she is not farming right now. >> and I ask that question because in the past, through various other efforts, whenever we are talking about what kind of uses that we can do, you know, are allowable in the ar zones, I do hear a lot of folks talking often about highest and best use. We hear a lot about our prime soils. And in my mind, you know, just as any amount of land that we've designated for infill and redevelopment, I would like to see developed instead of sitting in the same way that any of our ag land, whether it's protected by pdr or not, I would love to see working. If not to its highest and best potential, least working in some ways, right? So I kind of wish that we did have a way of tracking, in the same way that we can track within our urban core what we consider under utilized or vacant land or undeveloped land. It would be interesting and helpful to me if we could somehow track what famples are not being fully utilized. >> okay. We probably have a way to look at that because, so on our monitoring reports, there is usually like charlie farmer who we contract with does the majority of those. He notes that like this is a cattle farm. This is a crop farm. This is a horse farm. And so we probably have a way to look at at and see. >> that would be great. And even to your point, even of all the active farms, it would be interesting to see what the categories are so we can kind of look at oh you know, cattle farming accounts for blank percentage of what we do versus crops versus horses, et cetera. >> yes. >> so that would be helpful. >> all right, yes. >> and then let's see okay, that actually was my last question. Thank you very much. Thank you, chair. Chair: council member boone. >> thank you, chair. And thank you, ma'am, for the presentation. First I would like to thank the organization or committee to all the work that you do. Just a curious question, as far as the small farm program, and we had some conversations, is it -- is there an avenue I guess of multiple smaller than 10-acre farms that I guess were farming together in a sense, to apply or is it strictly on a property line basis, I guess? >> so if they were owned by the same owner, and were willing to consolidate, like let's say they had two five acre tracts, they could do that. We actually have allowed that with pdr. So sometimes before we had the small farm program, we might have somebody with a 10-acre tract and 13 and they wanted to put them into pdr. And as long as they apply as one -- we let them apply as one 23-acre application and then we wait to see if we are actually going to move forward and would then require them to get a consolidation plat. So, yes, that is an opportunity for the small farms. >> okay, wonderful. And as far as like some of the applications that didn't go through, I guess, is there anything that sticks out to where we could aid in those applications to get through, whether it be the water quality plan or is there anything we can do to help there, I guess? >> yes, so we are -- so the water quality plan, there are the conservation district is willing to help them that it is an online tool. But you know sometimes that's hard, especially some of the farmers who are not on a computer all day and having to do that, it's a state administered tool but the fayette conservation district will help with that. As far as the mortgages, so our attorney that does our closings wrote a memo last year for the land owners to give to their lenders that explains what subordination program is with the pdr program and what the pdr program is and he provided a template that is a subordination letter and a sample of the agreement signed at closing and our easement so that they can see, the lender can see what they're giving up. So we provided that packet. Commerce lexington's seat on our board is required to be a banker per ordinance. And someone that has experience in ag lending. So jonathan disney, who is our -- who serves in that role, we are referring people to him to just get advice. Like how can I explain this to my lender in a way that MAY help them or is there something that he suggests. Because the memo our attorney wrote is wonderful but it's very legalese, you know, so it helps to have someone who is in banking. So jonathan agreed to for like gloria and me me and any other board members to give out his number and he will help aid in that process. >> wonderful. Thank you ma'am. Thank you chair. council member lynch. >> thank you, chair and thank you MS. Overman for the presentation. My specific questions are regarding the rural land management board. As I am sure you know, vice mayor wu and I have been looking at the cities boards and commissions over the past two years just to look for, if they're truly representative of the population of the city. And if they're effective in the work they're doing. And so looking at the listing of board members and the designated seats on the board, it's quite a few of designated seats. You said during the presentation, this is the same group of organizations that were part of the implementation committee. So what was the decision like? Why did the implementation -- the group of implementation committee then become the board? How did that happen? >> so -- and gloria MAY speak to that a little better if needed. So essentially, what they can do is, you can see by looking at this, like commerce lexington, the realtors, the building industry association that used to be called the homebuilders, those are groups that you wouldn't think would want pdr, but they brought them all to the table. So it was a mixture of people that did want preservation, some people who stereotypically you might think might not. And brought them all together. And they intentionally kept those seats on the board so that there would always be that diverse group of voices. So you would have the realtor, who might be worried about how many houses you are building or not, you know, might want to develop the land. And you would have the home builders on there and things. So the idea was to be able to keep a diverse group of voices on the board. And then the council appointed seats. That was one thing, I think when it was council member bledso who was doing a review of boards back when they added that, and looking at some of the makeup and they realized that they wanted to be able for you all to pick two other people in the community who maybe weren't represented and those those seats were added and that has been neat to have that. The that has been a good addition. >> I appreciate that context. And I'm glad you brought up a diverse representation because our civiclex did a study of all the sitting boards and commissions and in fact this board is not truly& representative of the city. It is 50 are 56 caucasian, 25 african-american 100% homeowners and 100% have bachelor or higher degrees so this board is not truly representative of the city , which is a concern for me. And I know that you have so many designates seats and so many requirements for people to be representative from that group on the board, you are going to get folks that with higher education levels that are more homeowners and things like that, but that doesn't lead to a moore diverse board. >> okay. >> so all that to say, I will be in contact with you so we can have a sit down to discuss this because we are looking at all of the boards and commissions that have lots of designated seats and see if that's the right route we should be going to make sure because our goal is to make our our boards and commissions are truly accessible to everybody who want to serve on them. And so this listing gives me a little is bit of a concern so I will be following up with you on that issue as well and then also I'm not sure if you are aware, but I am working with a work group on the rural settlements and our last work group meeting, we talked about how other cities have used the pdr program to preserve historic places such as a placing in utingertown that MAY not be appropriate for a h-1 overlay but maybe a pdr program for such historic places to preserve those important places for historical purposes, cultural purposes as well. So I might look for e. -- look for an email from me and gloria as well because I want to do more research about what other cities are doing to see how they use the pdr program. That MAY be a potential avenue. >> I think that's an excellent idea. Commissioner horn and I had just a brief discussion because I know part of the small farm program is we do want to reach the people in the rural hamlets and things and juwana I know that is on our board works with you. And I think some of the hamlets, they're even smaller than 10 abeers. So do we make exceptions? Is that something that we look And, you know, if they're in a hamlet, go ahead and move forward with that. So, yes. We would be happy to have that conversation. >> look forward to the conversation. >> thank you. >> thank you, chair. council member sevigny. >> thank you, chair and thank you so much for the presentation. I've got just a series of questions and I kind of let you know about some of these ahead of time. But once again, what is the total amount of land that was the target for preservation or conservation? >> 50,000 acres. >> 15,000? >> 50,000. >> like wow, we already killed 50,000 acres. What I see in your presentation is almost 34,000 acres are already done. You got 385 in process and 868 new applications. Is that right? >> yes, not including the small farm program. >> that includes the small farms. >> no, that is just pdr. >> are you sure? Let me look at the presentation. Do you have the small farms -- I see the pdr is 868 but there are a couple of small farms on the >> yes. >> okay, cool. So I'm kind of curious what has been -- and I remember when I was on the pdr board, it varies by site because it is soil specific and then you get points for proximity to x, y or z. Of these, like what do you feel like the typical amount per acre will be on the stuff that you have kind of in process, the 385 and 868? >> it varies depending on their location size. Size is one of the biggest. And so and soils and things like that. We are seeing a range right now probably from 3500 to 4500 per acre for the pdr program, not small farm program. >> I know we haven't been using the full balance each year so would I ask where we are in the actual balance of what of what is kind of sitting there right now for you to use, because we didn't -- we didn't find it, I think, the past two years because you were working through a balance. >> yes, with this big class of applicants in SEPTEMBER with is 2 0 acres and two 100 acres we are down to 2 be.76 unencumbered. >> that is if we accepted all these people? >> yes. >> so you are encumbering that in case we approve all that. >> we do. The law department advised us because we sign letters of intents with the land owners and with the federal application we actually have to attest that we have the matching funds so those are encumbered funds, yes and then similar to vice mayor wu's question,. Conservation easement by others, donated easements are not included in that amount, are they? In the roughly 35,000 acres? >> yes. Donated by others? No, they are not. >> do you think we can get that number from you at some point. >> yes. Margaret graves chairs the bluegrass land conservancy. >> that would be helpful so we now how close we are to the target. And then on the small farm thing. I recall we look at the income you have an income level that you have to be under in order to get into the pdr program and was it like $750,000 or I forget what the number is? >> so the pdr program does not have a restriction on income our ordinance does not include that nor the small farm program. The federal government's program has a $900,000 adjusted gross income limit and I think depending how they have their farm set up, that could include the farm's income. They actually -- the farm bill that passed the house in 2026 -- or in APRIL, and just passed the senate ag committee in SEPTEMBER, does away with that agi limit. So it's possible that next year we will be working with a program that has no restrictions on income with a matching program. >> I got a few more questions. I'll sign back in. Thank you chair. >> council member ellinger. >> thank you, chair. Council member sevigny started off where I was going to g. He took a few of mine. I want to go back to -- and when the rural land management board created this in '98, it was bc, before I came on here in 2002. Before chuck. I think that's when it came on and gloria, were you part of that -- so in 99 and our goal is 50,000 and we are at 34 so we are at about 68%. >> yes. >> when we first started, we were getting the match from the federal government and you mentioned match. Are we still getting matches now? >> we are, yes. Definitely. Actually and that is I know across government you all have dealt with a lot of grants going away under the current administration, but this money that we use in this matching fund is in tact. As a matter of fact, the kentucky nrcs just received $6 million for this year for the applications we just submitted. And they think, -- they said it's the largest they've ever received and they have been doing the program almost the same years we have, around 26, but and they MAY have a second deadline in MARCH to utilize that. The farm bill I just referenced, so the 2018 farm bill provided $450 million per year for this program and it is upping it to, I think it's graduated from $650 all the way up to $700 million for this program. >> is it a 50-50 match. >> it is 50-50, yes. >> and so we are a little over two-thirds of the way there. And do we think we are going get to the 50,000? What is the goal? A couple,000 -- a couple thousand each year? >> we hope each year having around a thousand is wonderful. >> we still have 15 more years to get our goal of the 50? >> yes. So and you know, a big farm could come in, like the one that council member elliot-baxter referenced earlier. So things like that could boost up if we get that. We did get a couple years ago, nearly 11 -- well it was nearly 1200-acre farm under easement. And it is the largest and nrcs partnered with us on it and it is the largest easement they had ever purchased in kentucky. >> I think our goal is and leave out areas where we can grow some, but for the most part to kind of do the rural area and encompass the urban service area, but allow certain areas. Are we going out and actually spook can the ones -- the ones we would like to have and talk to them to fill in some of the holes that we haven't got here? >> we haven't gotten with the change in the nrcs deadline, we didn't get to do too much this deadline but gloria said she is working on one that fills in a big piece of the map. So yes, we do try to look at that and see and especially like that one pdr farm 4-2024 that I mentioned. >> and the last couple of years, I don't think we put money into our budget because we were trying to spend what we already had. >> yes. >> stow going forward, it used to be about $2 million is what our -- is the number we always look at, the that looking forward? Is that what we can -- and I won't be part of this next fiscal budget, but I'm guessing that's kind of what you will be bringing toward the new council? >> I think so, yes, probably so. You know, that has been kind of, as you said, that's been historically what we have asked for. And so... >> and my time is running out. With affordability and housing costs going up and property values going up, is that an issue with us that we affect on the cost when where purchasing these development rights. >> yes, we are seeing the easement per acre go up, yes so we are seeing that increase. >> thank you and thank you for the hard work you all do. >> thank you. >> council member sevigny. >> thank you, chair. And thanks again, sorry I just wanted to finish my train of thought there. So there is no income -- the income restriction is gone for the federal program. We never really used it? >> it's not yet. When they pass this farm bill, it should be. >> I would be kind of curious. And are we -- do we have the demographics of the income of the people that apply or they don't have to provide it? >> no, no. >> and then what do we consider active farming and I'm kind of curious if someone actually -- just because 10-acre lots can also just be gentleman estates or gentlewoman estates. And I'm curious if -- I remember we used to check to make sure things were still being done and I just don't know exactly how that works for a 10-acre farm. >> yes, so what we look at and they have been different uses. One that applied, they had been growing grapes and used to have a partnership with the winery and then when we had the big freeze several years ago, it wiped some of that out, but they still had, you know, were growing some there and then were hoping that if they put the farm into the small farm program, they would have some money to reinvest in that. So that would count as fampling. That's something -- farming. We have one winery in pdr so we see some of that. Even things on small farms, you know, we look at the state has defend I goes -- definitions of what farming are and so does nrcs so things like beekeeping are even, and especially if you are using it to make honey and sell it at the farmers market are things like that. So there are a lot of things that people can be doing. Gardening and one has a garden truck and sells that. So things like that. So we are very flexible with that. Because if they're making that effort, you know, we don't -- we want to have them be able to join the program if they would like to. And one thing that -- you know, if it is something that -- a question, the kentucky ag water quality plan, we require that they do that. And that takes effort on their part and requires them to have some skin in the game, so we think if they're willing to go on the state website and fill that out and have it recorded with the conservation district that they're farming and this is what they're doing, then that definitely helps us realize that they're qualifying for the program. >> okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. I do want to make sure we get that number from margaret graves if we could because when I look at it, I'm just doing eye math and it's quite a bit. I just want to make sure that we are thinking of that as this program kind of comes to its natural conclusion at some point. >> all right, thank you. >> thank you MS. Overman. I have a couple of questions. you know, when we are looking at the map, I appreciate that you are working hard to recruit these properties that connect other properties that are already conserved. I imagine that being that this is a 25-year program, that most of our ag community already knows about this program. So what are the barriers to them voluntarily participating? Like not necessarily donating land into conservation, but applying or and going through the process? What are the barriers? Especially some of the larger tracts of land, why are they not participating? >> I think -- so I believe that what I can speak to is probably the reason people do apply. And so most of the people that apply, it is either financial. They have just bought the farm. This will help them start to farming and to add ag infrastructure. Or like the person I mentioned earlier whose husband died who was doing cattle farming and since he tied died, she is notes able to continue. A lot of times it's financial. Sometimes it's passion. Passion about the pdr program or about land conservation in general. Sometimes we hear from generations who have inherited the farm and they say it was important to my mother that we do this. She didn't do it because she wasn't sure what we might want to do with it after her death, but it was important to her and so we want to put the farm in. So it's generally those two. they're passionate about it or they need the money financially to help reinvest in the farm and that kind of thing. So I don't see it as many barriers. I think sometimes with the larger, you know, if they are extremely wealthy or do not have a need, as some of our larger farms in fayette county MAY be that they MAY not want to have the restrictions that come with an easement, you know. If there is not a financial need. So then we have to get to that part where they're passionate about conservation. And even talk to them about donating an easement. And a lot of our large farms as gloria commented are foreign owned which there is not a restriction in our ordinance. It just means we would not receive matching funds. >> I think my -- but even the folks that are wealthy that you are saying a lot of folks have a financial reason to participate in the program. The folks that are wealthy, can donate land into conservation though, correct? >> yes. >> I think that's my question. if we, as a community have said conservation is so important to us, particularly for our signature industries, I question why the large farms won't voluntarily participate. I really do appreciate your recruiting efforts. I would just like to also see the voluntary participation of these larger tracts of land that the map shows them. we can see them, we can see the lots and everything. >> yes. >> because I think we get a lot of pressure from the ag community to preserve. So I kind of want to see that same buy-in from the same stakeholders. >> okay, yes. >> I'm not saying that is on you: >> yes, okay, thank you. >> thank you for the presentation. I don't see anyone else signed in so you can step away from the podium. Thank you. >> okay. I want to take a minute because we might have a full agenda in NOVEMBER, to look through our items in committee to see if there is anything that we want to remove or change around. So if you have an item that would you like to speak to or ask a question about, please go ahead and sign in council member elliot-baxter. >> thank you, chair. Since we will be reporting out the drive-thru facilities and drive-up windows this afternoon, I will go ahead and make a motion to remove that item from committee. >> okay, a motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor say aye? >> aye. Mayor: any opposed? That motion passes. Chair: council member curtis. >> thank you, chair. Since we have had one presentation on my item regarding the review of the artificial intelligence policy, and because if y'all remember during that discussion, it was made clear that that policy is going to be one that continues to shift and change as the policy evolves, I would like to make a motion to move the review of the artificial intelligence policy item out from items rester referred and into annual periodic items. I have a motion. Can I have a second. >> second. any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. >> aye. any opposed? That motion passes. Any other items folks would like to speak to or make motions on. Council member sevigny? >> thanks. I was just wondering about the update on the building sustainability standards. I know that's something you have been working on and I know we are coming to the close of your term and I'm just kind of curious because we have several fairly decent size building projects going on. >> thank you for that question. >> I have been working with lfucg staff and representative from the environmental commission and council member curtis has joined those discussions now as well. So woe have been looking and writing text for the ordinance and accompanying energy standards manual to be presented back to this committee based on what the environmental commission presented to us that wasn't quite ready for today but i'm hoping that will be before council relatively soon. Thank you. >> thank you. Thank you to council member curtis for committing to continuing the work once I have left. >> council member reynolds. >> thank you, chair. I just wanted to briefly mention that council member lynch and I have been working on the housing solutions issue and we felt like it was better to wait until closer to the beginning of the year after we hone in on some things that have taken a lot of time, so council member lynch will be continuing that item and I will actually still work with her when I'm not in office anymore. >> anyone else wasn't to give an update to an item in committee? Okay. I don't see anyone else signed in our next meeting and the last of this calendar year will be NOVEMBER 10 at 1 P.M. That concludes our agenda so this meeting is adjourned.