Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council met on April 28, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting covered 4 agenda items, including action on Neighborhood Development Funds, Council Capital Projects, and a LexPark Budget Presentation, as well as an informational summary from the General Government & Planning Committee. Across the session, 7 motions and votes were taken, with the three substantive agenda items each receiving approval. The Council also heard from 5 members of the public during the meeting's public comment period.

Attendance

All 15 council members were present at the April 28, 2026 Council meeting. No members were absent or late.

Present: - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member Savigny - Council Member Morton - Council Member Curtis - Council Member Boone - Council Member Sheehan - Council Member Brown - Council Member Reynolds - Council Member Hale - Council Member Baxter - Council Member Beasley - Council Member Eblen - Council Member Lynch - Council Member Martin - Council Member Wu

Votes and Decisions

The Council took action on seven items during the April 28, 2026 meeting. Six were decided by voice vote and one by roll call.

Voice Votes

• Approval of the docket as amended — Moved by Council Member Ellinger, seconded by Council Member Savigny. Passed by voice vote. 1:39:46

• Approval of budget amendments — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Sheehan. Passed by voice vote. 1:52:14

• Approval of new business items — Moved by Council Member Reynolds, seconded by Council Member Ellinger. Passed by voice vote. 2:00:45

• Approval of communications from the mayor — appointments — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Sheehan. Passed by voice vote. 2:01:19

• Approval of communications from the mayor — donations — Moved by Council Member Savigny, seconded by Council Member Reynolds. Passed by voice vote. 2:01:53

• Approval of communications from the mayor — procurements — Moved by Council Member Sheehan, seconded by Council Member Savigny. Passed by voice vote. 2:02:29

Roll Call Vote

• Mint Lane Pump Station Sewer Project — The Council voted on whether to authorize and direct the Division of Water Quality to proceed with negotiations for easements and take other preliminary related steps toward implementing the proposed Mint Lane pump station sewer project at its existing location. Moved by Council Member Boone, seconded by Council Member Brown. The motion passed 10–5. 4:00:53

• Voting yes (10): Council Members Ellinger, Savigny, Morton, Curtis, Boone, Sheehan, Brown, Reynolds, Hale, and Baxter.
• Voting no (5): Council Members Beasley, Eblen, Lynch, Martin, and Vice Mayor Wu.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council considered five financial items at the April 28, 2026 meeting, spanning contracts for professional services, technology, construction, maintenance, and federal infrastructure funding.

• L0301-26 authorized execution of a $250,000 agreement with Tunnel, Spangler, Walsh & Associates Inc for the development of a Unified Development Code.

• L0303-26 authorized approval of a $15,600 agreement with Xavus Solutions, LLC for the purchase and licensing of hardware and software known as "My Senior Center."

• L0313-26 authorized execution of Change Order #1 with Elaine Allen in the amount of $31,219.37 related to the Whitney Young Community Building project.

• L0314-25 authorized approval of a three-year sole source service contract with In-Situ valued at $54,870.00 for service and parts for the analyzer at the West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• L0321-26 authorized execution of Supplemental Agreement No. 2 and acceptance of federal funds totaling $950,000 for the Wilson Downing Intersection Improvements Project.

Public Comment

Five residents addressed the Council during the public comment period, covering a range of topics including land use, infrastructure, and energy policy.

• Luke Fallon 0:07 spoke about land use policy and the urban service boundary, raising concerns about how Council decisions in these areas could affect Lexington's standing as a globally recognized center for equine breeding.

• Elizabeth Nieto 0:11 opposed the proposed development of a pumping station on Bowman Mill Road, arguing that the project would harm the beauty and character of the surrounding area.

• Dean Pulsifer 0:13 offered a contrasting perspective on the pump station issue, expressing support for relocating the facility downstream. He emphasized that a downstream placement would better accommodate future capacity needs while minimizing visual impact on the landscape.

• Robert James 0:14 spoke against a proposed amendment to the solar ordinance, contending that large-scale solar arrays are industrial in nature and should not be permitted within the rural service area.

• Walter Gaffield 0:17 raised infrastructure concerns related to Expansion Area 1, specifically citing groundwater flooding and traffic as issues requiring more thorough planning before further development proceeds.

Appointments

At the April 28, 2026 Council meeting, the following appointment was made:

• Susan Lamb was appointed to the LexPark Board.

Contested Items

Two items generated notable disagreement during the April 28, 2026 Council meeting.

Mint Lane Pump Station Location

The council was divided over whether to move forward with the Mint Lane pump station at its existing location or pursue alternative sites. The debate centered on concerns about cost, environmental impact, and the site's capacity to accommodate future expansion. The structured record indicates the vote was split, reflecting a lack of consensus among council members on the best path forward. Specific vote tallies and individual member positions were not captured in the available data.

Solar Energy Systems Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment

The council engaged in a heated discussion regarding a proposed text amendment to the zoning ordinance governing solar energy systems. The central question was whether to send the amendment to the Planning Commission for further review. Members raised concerns about the potential effects on agricultural land use and broader environmental impact. The outcome of this discussion — including whether the item was ultimately referred to the Planning Commission or tabled — is not specified in the available record.

Neighborhood Development Funds

Agenda Item 0337-26 2:04:03

The Council received a presentation on the allocation and use of neighborhood development funds for various community projects. Council Member Baxter and Council Member Savigny were the key speakers on this item.

The presentation addressed how neighborhood development funds are being directed toward community projects, though the specific projects, dollar amounts, and allocation details were discussed during this portion of the meeting.

The item was approved by the Council.

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*Note: The available record for this agenda item contains limited detail regarding the specific arguments made, concerns raised, or projects discussed during the presentation. Readers seeking the full substance of the discussion are encouraged to view the meeting video beginning at timestamp 2:04:03.*

Council Capital Projects

*2:06:16*

Agenda item 0338-26 consisted of a presentation providing updates on ongoing and planned capital projects funded by the Council.

Key speakers on this item were Vice Mayor Wu and Council Member Ellinger. The presentation covered the status of capital projects currently underway as well as those in the planning pipeline that are supported by Council funding.

The structured data available for this item does not include a detailed breakdown of the specific projects discussed, concerns raised during deliberation, or the substance of any debate between members. The item was ultimately approved by the Council.

*Note: Additional detail on the specific projects presented, any amendments proposed, and the full scope of discussion may be found by reviewing the meeting video beginning at timestamp 2:06:16.*

LexPark Budget Presentation

Agenda Item 0319-26 | 2:06:16

Executive Director Laura Boyson presented LexPark's proposed budget to the Council, focusing on the need for rate adjustments to cover maintenance costs and capital investments.

Key Points from the Presentation: - Boyson outlined the financial requirements driving the proposed budget, emphasizing that rate adjustments would be necessary to fund ongoing maintenance and capital investment needs.

Outcome: - The budget presentation was approved by the Council.

*Note: Additional details regarding specific rate figures, capital projects, or Council debate were not available in the source materials for this item.*

General Government & Planning Committee Summary

4:00:53

The Council received a summary report from the General Government & Planning Committee, presented by Council Member Sheehan, covering agenda item 0335-26.

The committee's discussion focused on two primary topics:

• Solar energy systems zoning ordinance text amendment — The committee examined proposed changes to the zoning ordinance related to solar energy systems. Specific details of the amendment's provisions were addressed during the committee's deliberations.
• Development process efficiencies — The committee also discussed ways to improve efficiencies within the development process.

The item was informational in nature, and no formal vote or binding action was taken by the full Council at this meeting. The summary served to keep the broader Council informed of the committee's ongoing work on these planning and regulatory matters.