Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on July 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting included 4 agenda items, 3 votes, 1 presentation, and 4 public comments. The Council approved three substantive items: an ordinance amending budgets for FY 2025 into FY 2026, an ordinance amending budgets for FY 2026, and a resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with UK ROTC. The meeting also featured an informational presentation from CivicLex on a Charter Review.

Attendance

The following members were present at the July 3, 2025 Council meeting:

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

Absent: Lynch

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

Votes and Decisions

The Council took roll call votes on three items during the July 3, 2025 meeting.

• Ordinance 0681-25 — An ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to provide funds for purchase orders and pre-paid expenses rolling from FY 2025 into FY 2026. Motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Curtis, the ordinance passed 14–0. All fourteen members voted in favor: Curtis, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Gray, Hale, LeGris, Morton, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, Beasley, Boone, and Brown.

• Ordinance 0679-25 — An ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures. Also motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Curtis, this ordinance passed 14–0 with the same unanimous vote: Curtis, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Gray, Hale, LeGris, Morton, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, Beasley, Boone, and Brown voting in favor.

• Resolution 0474-25 — A resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Kentucky Army ROTC for the use of Hisle Farm Park for ROTC training. Motioned by Wu and seconded by Elliott Baxter, the resolution passed 8–5 as amended, with the agreement modified to a 6-month term. 1:15:04 Voting in favor were Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Hale, LeGris, Reynolds, Wu, Boone, and Brown. Voting against were Curtis, Gray, Morton, Sevigny, and Beasley. Council member Sheehan was not recorded in either the for or against tallies for this item.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council considered one financial item during the July 3, 2025 meeting involving the expenditure of Council Capital Project funds.

• Friends of the Parks in Fayette County, Inc. — $7,500: The Council took up an agreement with Friends of the Parks in Fayette County, Inc. in the amount of $7,500, drawn from Council Capital Project Expenditure Funds. No resolution number or additional contract identifier was included in the available meeting materials.

No other financial items, budget amendments, or appropriations were recorded for this meeting.

Public Comment

Four members of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period. All four speakers commented on the same agenda item: a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Kentucky ROTC program and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government concerning ROTC training activities at Hisle Farm Park.

• Dave Cooper spoke in opposition to the MOU.
• Deana Mullins spoke in opposition to the MOU.
• Chuck Eddy spoke in opposition to the MOU.
• Anita Courtney spoke in opposition to the MOU.

Each of the four speakers registered their opposition to the agreement that would allow UK ROTC training to take place at Hisle Farm Park. No speakers appeared in support of the MOU during the public comment period. No transcript timestamps are available for these comments.

Contested Items

• MOU with UK ROTC for Park Use: A resolution to authorize a Memorandum of Understanding with UK ROTC for use of a park was among the contested items at the July 3, 2025 Council meeting. The item drew community opposition and resulted in a split vote among Council members. The structured data does not provide additional detail on the specific terms of the MOU, the nature of the community objections, or the final outcome of the vote.

Ordinance amending Budgets for FY 2025 into FY 2026

Agenda Item 0681-25

The Council considered an ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to provide funds for purchase orders and pre-paid expenses rolling from FY 2025 into FY 2026. This type of budget amendment is a routine administrative measure used to carry forward encumbered funds — money already committed through outstanding purchase orders or pre-paid expenses at the close of one fiscal year — into the new fiscal year so that those obligations can be properly fulfilled.

Key speakers on this item included Ellinger and Curtis. The structured record does not detail the specific arguments made or concerns raised during discussion, but the item proceeded through Council consideration and was approved.

*Note: No transcript timestamp is available for this agenda item.*

Ordinance amending Budgets for FY 2026

Agenda Item 0679-25

The Council considered an ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures in Fiscal Year 2026.

Key speakers on this item included Council members Ellinger and Curtis. The ordinance was presented as a budget amendment measure intended to align existing appropriations with current operational needs and expenditure requirements for the fiscal year.

The ordinance was approved by the Council.

*Note: Detailed transcript timestamps and a full account of the specific discussion points, concerns raised, or debate are not available in the source materials for this item.*

Resolution for MOU with UK ROTC

1:15:04

The Council considered Resolution 0474-25, which would authorize and direct the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Kentucky Army ROTC for the use of Hisle Farm Park for ROTC training purposes.

Key speakers on this item included Wu, Morton, and Ford. The resolution was presented as a formal agreement governing the University of Kentucky Army ROTC's use of Hisle Farm Park as a training location.

The resolution was approved by the Council.

CivicLex Charter Review Presentation

1:16:35

Representatives from CivicLex — Richard Young and Kit Anderson — presented a proposal to the Council for a civic assembly to review the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter. The presentation was informational in nature, with no vote or formal action taken.

The proposal centered on establishing a structured civic assembly process aimed at examining the existing Charter with the goals of improving representation, trust, and public participation in local government. CivicLex framed the effort as an opportunity to engage residents directly in evaluating how the Charter governs the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and whether updates may be warranted.

No additional detail on specific concerns raised during discussion, the proposed structure or timeline of the civic assembly, or Council members' responses is available from the provided materials. The item was received as informational.