Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Environmental Quality and Public Works (EQPW) Committee met on June 10, 2025, at 1:00 P.M., with Hannah LeGris presiding. The meeting covered four agenda items spanning administrative business and several informational updates on ongoing initiatives. The committee took 2 votes during the session, including the approval of the May 13, 2025 Committee Summary. No public comments were heard during the meeting.

The three remaining agenda items were informational in nature, covering an update on the Empower Lexington initiative, a discussion on Urban Forestry and Street Trees, and updates related to HB 443 concerning Engineering and Waste Management. No public comments were received during the meeting.

Attendance

The following 11 members were present at the Committee meeting on June 10, 2025:

• Hannah LeGris
• Dave Sevigny
• James Brown
• Tyler Morton
• Emma Curtis
• Liz Sheehan
• Denise Gray
• Joseph Hale
• Amy Beasley
• Hil Boone
• Dan Wu

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

Two motions were brought before the committee during the June 10, 2025 meeting, both of which passed by voice vote.

• Changes to Engineering Manuals (effective July 1, 2025): The committee voted to accept changes to several engineering manuals, effective July 1, 2025, in order to comply with House Bill 443. The motion was seconded by Dave Sevigny and passed by voice vote. Because this was a voice vote, individual ayes and nays were not recorded. 1:39:22

• Ordinance Amending Chapter 16 – Dumpster Service Standards: The committee voted to approve an ordinance amending certain sections of Chapter 16 related to dumpster service standards. The motion was seconded by Denise Gray and passed by voice vote. Because this was a voice vote, individual ayes and nays were not recorded. 1:40:58

Approval of May 13, 2025 Committee Summary

The committee took up the approval of the summary from its May 13, 2025 meeting. Hannah LeGris was the key speaker on this agenda item. No concerns or substantive debate were noted in connection with the summary. The committee approved the May 13, 2025 summary.

Empower Lexington Update

4:30

Jada Walker-Griggs presented an update on the Empower Lexington plan, with the presentation focusing on sustainability and emissions reduction strategies. The item was informational in nature, providing the committee with a progress report on the plan's current status and direction.

No additional speaker details, specific data points, debate, or concerns are recorded in the available meeting materials for this agenda item.

Urban Forestry/Street Trees

1:00:15

Heather Wilson provided a presentation to the Committee on the urban forestry and street tree programs. The update covered ongoing pruning initiatives as well as cost-share programs related to street trees.

The agenda item was informational in nature, and no vote or formal action was taken as a result of the presentation.

*Note: Additional details regarding specific program metrics, concerns raised, or further discussion points are not available in the source material for this agenda item.*

HB 443 Updates: Engineering / Waste Management

1:30:58

Doug Burton and John Howard presented updates on the committee's compliance efforts related to HB 443, with the presentation covering two primary areas: stormwater manual standards and dumpster service standards.

The update was informational in nature, with Burton and Howard outlining the steps being taken to align engineering and waste management practices with the requirements established under HB 443. The presentation addressed both the stormwater manual — which governs how stormwater infrastructure and drainage are designed and managed — and standards related to dumpster services, reflecting the legislation's scope across multiple operational areas.

No specific outcome or action item was recorded from this agenda item, as it was presented for the committee's awareness and informational purposes rather than for a vote or formal decision.