Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council met on October 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting covered 2 agenda items, including an informational presentation recognizing Lexington's Sister Cities as part of the city's 250th Anniversary celebration, and a Zone Change Ordinance that was brought before the Council for a vote. The Council took 2 votes during the session and heard no public comments. The Zone Change Ordinance was approved, making it the primary action item of the evening.

Attendance

Present (13): Hannah LaGrie, Shalo Lynch, Tyler Morton, Jennifer Reynolds, Dave Sevigny, Liz Sheehan, Dan Wu, Hill Boone, James Brown, Emma Curtis, Chuck Ellinger, Whitney Elliott-Baxter, and Lisa Higgins-Hord.

Absent (2): Amy Beasley and Joseph Hale.

No members were recorded as late to the October 23, 2025 Council meeting.

Votes and Decisions

Two items came to a vote during the October 23, 2025 Council meeting, both passing unanimously.

• Ordinance 0934-25 6:26 — The Council voted on an ordinance to rezone property from a Single Family Residential (R-1D) zone and a Townhouse Residential (R-1T) zone to a Medium Density Residential (R-4) zone. The motion was made by Mr. Ellinger and seconded by Ms. Elliott Baxter. On a roll call vote, the ordinance passed 13–0, with no nays or abstentions. Voting in favor: LeGris, Lynch, Morton, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, Boone, Brown, Curtis, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, and Higgins-Hord.

• Resolution 0913-25 27:03 — The Council voted on a resolution specifying the Urban County Council's intention to expand and extend Full Urban Services District #1. The motion was made by Ms. Reynolds and seconded by Mr. Sevigny. On a roll call vote, the resolution passed 13–0, with no nays or abstentions. Voting in favor: LeGris, Lynch, Morton, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, Boone, Brown, Curtis, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, and Higgins-Hord.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council considered two financial items at the October 23, 2025 meeting, encompassing a service agreement and a neighborhood incentive grant.

• Resolution 0906-25 authorized a Purchase of Service Agreement with the Ky. Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $30,000. This contract establishes a formal funding relationship between the Council and the Foundation under the designated resolution.

• Resolution 0909-25 approved an agreement awarding a Class A (Neighborhood) Incentive Grant to Friends of Wolf Run, Inc. in the amount of $48,183.75. This grant falls under the Neighborhood Incentive Grant program's Class A designation, directing funds to the Friends of Wolf Run organization.

Together, these two actions represent a combined expenditure of $78,183.75 across the two resolutions considered at this meeting.

Recognition of Lexington's Sister Cities - Celebrating Lexington's 250th Anniversary

7:58

As part of Lexington's 250th anniversary celebrations, representatives from the city's sister cities were welcomed before the Council to mark the occasion. Mayor Gorton presided over the recognition, which brought together delegates from Lexington's international partner cities.

The following key participants took part in the presentation:

• Mayor Gorton – presided over the recognition ceremony
• Kay Sargent – participating representative
• Phillipe Behuet – participating representative
• Caramel Kelly – participating representative
• Katsuyuki Ohno – participating representative
• Cathy Whitaker – participating representative

Each delegation was presented with a key to the city as a symbolic gesture of the longstanding relationships between Lexington and its sister cities. The presentation was celebratory in nature, honoring the international partnerships that have developed alongside the city's history as it marks its 250th anniversary milestone.

This item was informational in nature, with no votes or formal action taken by the Council. No concerns or debate were recorded in connection with this agenda item.

Zone Change Ordinance

Agenda Item 0934-25 6:26

The Council took up an ordinance proposing a zone change from a Single Family Residential (R-1D) zone and a Townhouse Residential (R-1T) zone to a Medium Density Residential (R-4) zone.

Key speakers on this item included Mr. Ellinger and Ms. Elliott Baxter. The ordinance was presented and discussed before the Council, with Mr. Ellinger and Ms. Elliott Baxter participating in the consideration of the proposed rezoning.

The Council ultimately approved the ordinance, authorizing the zone change to Medium Density Residential (R-4) as proposed.