Council Work Session
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Summary
Meeting Overview
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on January 13, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting covered 7 agenda items spanning a range of legislative and administrative business, including rezonings, budget amendments, new business, mayoral appointments, and procurements. The Council took a total of 8 votes during the session, with the majority of action items receiving approval. One public comment was heard at the outset of the meeting on issues appearing on the agenda. The meeting also included an informational presentation under the Continuing Business/Presentations agenda item.
Attendance
All 15 council members were present at the January 13, 2026 meeting. No members were absent or late.
Members Present: Wu, Brown, Ellinger II, Morton, Lynch, LeGris, Curtis, Sheehan, Higgins-Hord, Hale, Beasley, Baxter, Sevigny, Reynolds, and Boone.
Votes and Decisions
All votes at the January 13, 2026 Council meeting were taken by voice vote and passed. No roll call votes were recorded, and no individual yea/nay counts are available for any item.
- Approve the docket as amended — Moved by Boone. Passed by voice vote. 0:02
- Place item 16-26 under ordinances for first reading — Moved by Boone. Passed by voice vote. 0:02
- Place a resolution for a grant application on the docket for January 15, 2026 — Moved by Reynolds, seconded by Ellinger. Passed by voice vote. 0:03
- Approve December 2, 2025 Council Work Session Motions — Passed by voice vote. 0:04
- Approve budget amendments — Passed by voice vote. 0:05
- Approve new business — Moved by Reynolds, seconded by Sevigny. Passed by voice vote. 0:05
- Approve Communications from the Mayor – Appointments — Moved by Baxter, seconded by Curtis. Passed by voice vote. 0:11
- Approve Communications from the Mayor – Procurements — Moved by Reynolds, seconded by Curtis. Passed by voice vote. 0:12
Budget and Financial Actions
The Council addressed three financial items at the January 13, 2026 meeting, spanning grant applications, utility contracts, and a bond issuance.
- Town Branch Trail Grant Application: The Council considered a grant application to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet seeking $4,700,000 to fund Phase 4 and 5 of the Town Branch Trail project. No resolution identifier was associated with this item.
- Utility Relocation Agreements (L0007-26): Under Resolution L0007-26, the Council authorized the execution of agreements with Kentucky American Water and Kentucky Utilities for utility relocation work. The combined value of these agreements totals $768,475.
- General Obligation Bond Issuance (L0003-26): Under Resolution L0003-26, the Council authorized the sale and issuance of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Various Purpose General Obligation bonds, Series 2026A, in the amount of $18,040,000.
In total, the financial actions considered at this meeting represent approximately $23.5 million in public expenditures, grant funding, and debt issuance across infrastructure, utility, and general government purposes.
Public Comment
At the January 13, 2026 Council meeting, no members of the public came forward to offer comments on issues on the agenda. 1:30
Appointments
The Council took action on appointments to various commissions and boards during the January 13, 2026 meeting. The available structured data indicates that multiple individuals were appointed to positions across several bodies, though specific names, commission titles, and individual appointment details are not available in the provided record.
For a complete list of the individuals appointed and the specific commissions or boards to which they were assigned, members of the public are encouraged to consult the official meeting minutes or agenda documentation published by the Council.
Public Comment - Issues on Agenda
No public comments were made on issues on the agenda during this portion of the Council meeting.
Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval
The Council took up the matter of requested rezonings and docket approval. Council member Boone was the key speaker during this portion of the meeting. The docket was approved with amendments, which included a rezoning ordinance.
The available record does not detail the specific properties, zoning classifications, or the nature of the amendments beyond the inclusion of the rezoning ordinance. The item was ultimately approved by the Council.
Budget Amendments
The Council took up budget amendments during the January 13, 2026 meeting. The amendments were approved without dissent.
No specific speakers, presented figures, or debate details are available in the record for this agenda item.
New Business
The Council took up New Business, during which several authorizations and agreements were presented for consideration. Reynolds and Sevigny were among the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.
The items brought forward under New Business were approved by the Council.
*Note: The available data for this agenda item is limited. For full details on the specific authorizations and agreements considered, viewers are encouraged to consult the meeting minutes or review the relevant portion of the meeting video beginning at timestamp 05:44.*
Communications From the Mayor – Appointments
The Council took up the matter of appointments submitted by the Mayor. Baxter and Curtis were among the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.
The appointments were presented to the Council for consideration and approval. No additional details regarding the specific positions, nominees, or any debate or concerns raised during this agenda item are available in the record.
The Council approved the Mayor's appointments.
Communications From the Mayor – Procurements
The Council took up the Communications From the Mayor – Procurements agenda item during the January 13, 2026 meeting. The procurements, submitted by the Mayor's office, were presented for Council consideration and approval.
Key speakers on this item included Reynolds and Curtis. The structured record does not detail the specific contracts, vendors, or dollar amounts discussed, nor does it indicate that any concerns or debate were raised during consideration of the procurements.
The Council approved the procurements.
Continuing Business/Presentations
During this portion of the meeting, two reports were presented to the Council.
- Reynolds and Cruz-Folk were the key speakers during this agenda item.
- Reports were delivered covering the Social Services and Public Safety Committee and Medical Debt Relief.
This item was informational in nature, with no vote or formal action taken as an outcome of the presentations.
*Note: Additional detail on the substance of each report, any concerns raised, or debate among Council members is not available in the source materials for this item.*
Decisions
- Motion — passed (0-0): approve the January 15, 2026 Council Meeting Docket, as amended
- Motion — passed (0-0): place on the docket for the January 15, 2026 Council Meeting, an Ordinance changing the zone from an Agricultural Rural (A R) zone to a Medium Density Residential (R 4) zone and a Light Industrial (I 1) zone, for 65.69 net (73.72 gross) acres for properties located at 200, 201, 250, 251 and 301 Canebrake Dr. without a public hearing
- Motion — passed (0-0): o place on the docket for the January 15, 2026 Council Meeting, a Resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor, on behalf of the Urban County Government, to execute and submit a Grant Application to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet – Office of Local Programs, to provide any additional information requested in connection with this application, and to accept this grant if awarded, which grant funds are in the amount of $4,700,000.00 in federal funds from the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), for the Town Branch Trail Phase IV and V Project, the acceptance of which obligates the Urban County Government to the expenditure of $1,175,000.00 as a local match, and authorizing the Mayor to transfer unencumbered funds within the Grant Budget
- Motion — passed (0-0): approve the December 2, 2025 Table of Motions
- Motion — passed (0-0): approve Budget Amendments
- Motion — passed (0-0): approve New Business
- Motion — passed (0-0): approve Communications from the Mayor- Appointments
- Motion — passed (0-0): approve Communications from the Mayor – Procurements
- Motion — passed (0-0): place the Meet and Confer between the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees ASFME 4468 into the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee for review and consideration, including terms related to workforce conditions and operational impacts
- Motion — passed (0-0): place Chapter 17C – Public Rights of Way of the Code of Ordinances, into the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee
- Motion — passed (0-0): place the Housing Rehabilitation Program into the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
- Motion — passed (0-0): adjourn at 3:43 p.m