Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council met on July 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting covered 6 agenda items, including one informational presentation, and resulted in 6 motions and votes. Council heard 1 public comment during the session. Five items were brought to a vote and approved, covering a range of topics including zoning changes, civil service positions, and infrastructure projects.

Agenda items included: - Tom Harris Day — informational presentation - Zoning Change Ordinance — approved - Zoning Ordinance Amendment — approved - Civil Service Positions Amendment — approved - East Hickman Pump Station Phase 2 — approved - Jacks Creek Pike Slope Repair — approved

Attendance

The following members were present at the July 1, 2025 Council meeting:

• Mayor Gorton
• Brown
• Curtis
• Ellinger
• Elliott Baxter
• Hale
• LeGris
• Lynch
• Morton
• Reynolds
• Sevigny
• Sheehan
• Wu
• Beasley
• Boone

Absent: Gray

No members were recorded as late. A total of 15 members were in attendance.

Votes and Decisions

The Council took action on six items during the July 1, 2025 meeting.

• Motion 0683-25 — Approval of the Minutes of the June 10, 2025 Council Meeting. Moved by Curtis, seconded by Sevigny. Passed unanimously, 15–0. 0:06

• Motion 0620-25 — An Ordinance changing the zone from a Single-Family Residential (R-1A) zone to a Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) zone. Moved by Ellinger, seconded by Elliott Baxter. Passed on a roll call vote, 12–0. Voting in favor: Brown, Curtis, Elliott Baxter, Hale, LeGris, Lynch, Morton, Reynolds, Sheehan, Wu, Beasley, and Boone. 19:56

• Motion 0621-25 — An Ordinance amending Article 8-20 of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Zoning Ordinance, relating to the Corridor Business (B-3) zone. Moved by Ellinger, seconded by Elliott Baxter. Passed on a roll call vote, 10–2, with 2 abstentions. Voting in favor: Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Hale, LeGris, Lynch, Morton, Sheehan, Wu, and Boone. Voting against: Curtis and Beasley. 20:29

• Motion 0607-25 — An Ordinance amending the Classified Civil Service authorized strength by creating positions. Moved by Ellinger, seconded by Curtis. Passed on a roll call vote, 14–0. Voting in favor: Brown, Curtis, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Hale, LeGris, Lynch, Morton, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, Beasley, and Boone. 24:13

• Motion 0639-25 — A Resolution accepting the bid of Judy Construction Co. for the East Hickman Pump Station Phase 2. Moved by Sevigny, seconded by Curtis. Passed on a roll call vote, 14–0. Voting in favor: Brown, Curtis, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Hale, LeGris, Lynch, Morton, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, Beasley, and Boone. 25:15

• Motion 0671-25 — A Resolution accepting the bid of Geospecialties LLC for the Jacks Creek Pike Slope Repair. Moved by Elliott Baxter, seconded by Wu. Passed on a roll call vote, 14–0. Voting in favor: Brown, Curtis, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Hale, LeGris, Lynch, Morton, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, Beasley, and Boone. 44:36

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved three contracts at the July 1, 2025 meeting, covering infrastructure, utility, and road repair work.

• Resolution 0601-25 authorized a contract with L-M Asphalt Partners, Ltd. d/b/a ATS Construction in the amount of $1,686,289.20 for the Mason Headley Improvements Project.

• Resolution 0639-25 authorized a contract with Judy Construction Co. in the amount of $2,945,000 for the East Hickman Pump Station Phase 2 project.

• Resolution 0671-25 authorized a contract with Geospecialties LLC in the amount of $849,525 for the Jacks Creek Pike Slope Repair project.

Combined, the three contracts represent a total commitment of approximately $5,480,814.20 in public expenditures approved at this meeting.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period of the July 1, 2025 meeting.

• Amy Clark 12:56 spoke in opposition to a proposed ordinance that would amend Article 8-20 of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Zoning Ordinance. Clark argued that the amendment would negatively impact Lexington's landscape and community, urging the Council to reconsider the measure.

No additional public comments were recorded for this meeting.

Appointments

The Council approved appointments and reappointments to several city boards and commissions at the July 1, 2025 meeting.

Board of Health - Andrea Banks — appointed - Shawn Milburn — appointed - Joseph Warren — appointed - Maria Gomez — reappointed

Carnegie Center for Literacy Board of Directors - Eugenia Johnson-Smith — reappointed

Corridors Commission - Jennifer Carey — reappointed - Emma Curtis — reappointed - Francis McDonnell — reappointed - Brandi Peacher — reappointed - Jennifer Reynolds — reappointed - Eric Sutherland — reappointed

Greenspace Trust - Price Bell — appointed - Maurice Burden — reappointed - Shayla Lynch — reappointed - Heather Shaffer — reappointed

Historic Preservation Commission - James Dickinson — reappointed - Traci Wade — reappointed

Housing Authority Board - William Wilson — reappointed

Mayor's International Affairs Advisory Commission - Rania Belmadani — appointed - Monica Calleja — reappointed - Elisha Mutayongwa — reappointed

In total, the Council confirmed 21 appointments across eight bodies, including six new appointments — Andrea Banks, Shawn Milburn, and Joseph Warren to the Board of Health; Price Bell to the Greenspace Trust; and Rania Belmadani to the Mayor's International Affairs Advisory Commission. The remaining 16 actions were reappointments of individuals already serving on their respective boards and commissions.

Contested Items

• Zoning Ordinance Amendment (Article 8-20): A proposed amendment to Article 8-20 of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Zoning Ordinance drew public opposition during the meeting. Amy Clark spoke against the ordinance, raising concerns about its potential impact on Lexington's landscape and community. No additional speakers for or against the amendment are noted in the record, and no outcome or vote result is captured in the available data.

Tom Harris Day

6:54

Under agenda item 0657-25, Mayor Gorton issued a proclamation declaring July 1, 2025, as Tom Harris Day in Lexington. The proclamation recognized Tom Harris for his contributions in his role as Vice President for University Relations at the University of Kentucky.

Mayor Gorton presented the proclamation, and Tom Harris was present at the meeting. The item was informational in nature and did not require a vote by the Council.

Zoning Change Ordinance

Agenda Item 0620-25 19:56

The Council took up an ordinance to rezone the property at 1899 Parkers Mill Rd. from Single-Family Residential (R-1A) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3). Key speakers on this item included Ellinger and Elliott Baxter.

The ordinance was ultimately approved by the Council.

*Note: Additional details regarding the specific arguments presented, any concerns raised during debate, and the vote tally were not available in the source data for this item.*

Zoning Ordinance Amendment

Agenda Item 0621-25 20:29

The Council took up an ordinance to amend Article 8-20 of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Zoning Ordinance. The proposed change would remove the minimum building lot coverage requirement in the Corridor Business (B-3) zone.

Key speakers on this item included Ellinger and Elliott Baxter. The discussion centered on the substance of the amendment and its implications for development within B-3 zoned areas. The minimum lot coverage requirement, as it currently stands in Article 8-20, sets a floor on how much of a lot must be covered by a building structure; removing it would give property owners and developers greater flexibility in how they configure buildings and site layouts within the Corridor Business zone.

The Council ultimately approved the ordinance.

Civil Service Positions Amendment

24:13

The Council took up Ordinance 0607-25, a measure to amend the Classified Civil Service authorized strength by creating new positions in two areas: the Division of Streets and Roads and the Office of the Mayor.

Key speakers on this item included Ellinger and Curtis. The ordinance was presented and discussed before the Council, though no significant concerns or opposition are noted in the record from this portion of the meeting.

The Council approved the ordinance.

East Hickman Pump Station Phase 2

25:15

The Council considered Resolution 0639-25, a resolution accepting the bid for the East Hickman Pump Station Phase 2 and authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Judy Construction Co.

Key speakers on this item included Sevigny and Curtis. The resolution was approved by the Council.

*Note: The available record for this agenda item does not include detailed discussion points, debate, or specific concerns raised during the meeting beyond the item's description and outcome.*

Jacks Creek Pike Slope Repair

44:36

The Council considered Resolution 0671-25, a resolution accepting the bid for the Jacks Creek Pike Slope Repair and authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Geospecialties LLC.

Key speakers on this item included Elliott Baxter and Wu. The resolution was approved by the Council.

*Note: Detailed discussion points, bid amounts, project scope, and any concerns raised during deliberation are not available in the provided source material for this agenda item.*