Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council met on May 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507. The meeting included 3 agenda items, 9 motions and votes, 1 presentation, and 2 public comments. The Council approved two action items: the summary of the Council Work Session from May 5, 2026, and the Council Capital Projects for May 12, 2026. Members also received an informational presentation on the Lextran FY2027 Budget.

Attendance

All ten council members were present at the May 12, 2026 Council meeting. No members were absent or late.

Present: - Council Member Ellinger - Vice Mayor Wu - Council Member Curtis - Council Member Baxter - Council Member Reynolds - Council Member Morton - Council Member Brown - Council Member Savigny - Council Member Hale - Council Member Eblen

Votes and Decisions

All nine motions brought before the Council on May 12, 2026 passed by voice vote. No roll call votes were recorded, and no individual aye, nay, or abstention counts are available for any of the items below.

• Approval of docket and rezoning — Moved by Council Member Ellinger, seconded by Vice Mayor Wu. Passed by voice vote. 6:30

• Approval of May 5th Council Work Session motions — Moved by Council Member Curtis, seconded by Council Member Baxter. Passed by voice vote. 7:34

• Approval of budget amendments — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Reynolds. Passed by voice vote. 7:34

• Approval of new business items — Moved by Council Member Baxter, seconded by Council Member Reynolds. Passed by voice vote. 8:05

• Approval of mayoral appointments — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Baxter. Passed by voice vote. 19:39

• Approval of mayoral donations — Moved by Council Member Savigny, seconded by Council Member Sheehan. Passed by voice vote. 19:39

• Approval of mayoral procurements — Moved by Council Member Hale, seconded by Council Member Eblen. Passed by voice vote. 20:09

• Approval of council capital projects — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Sheehan. Passed by voice vote. 20:39

• Schedule public hearing for Red Mile TIF project expansion — Moved by Council Member Brown, seconded by Council Member Reynolds. Passed by voice vote. 45:12

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several financial agreements and purchases at the May 12, 2026 meeting, spanning public safety, infrastructure, and community programs.

• Fire Apparatus Purchase (L0336-26): The Council authorized a purchase agreement with Atlantic Emergency Solutions, Inc. for a Custom Fire Apparatus Pierce Enforcer Pumper at a cost of $1,343,000.00. This represents the meeting's largest single expenditure.

• Cable TV Services (L0354-26): A service order with Charter Communications Operating, LLC was approved for cable TV services valued at $2,460.

• Public Art Grant (L0356-26): The Council approved a $150,000 grant agreement with Gatton Park to support a public art project.

• Nasal Narcan Supply (L0358-26): An agreement with Emergent was authorized for the purchase of nasal Narcan spray at a cost of $98,175, supporting the city's public health and emergency response efforts.

• Emergency Management Performance Grant (L0359-26): The Council approved an agreement with the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs to receive an Emergency Management Performance Grant totaling $84,935.40.

• Police Training Academy (L0368-26): A Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Kentucky was approved for the Police Training Academy project, valued at $928,242.

In total, the Council authorized over $2.6 million in expenditures and grant agreements across these six items, with public safety commitments — including fire apparatus, Narcan procurement, emergency management, and police training — accounting for the majority of spending.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period at the May 12, 2026 meeting.

• Trevor Davis 50:06 spoke on the topic of the Opioid Abatement Fund Allocation. Davis raised concerns about a proposal to allocate $2 million to an interest-bearing account designated for opioid abatement efforts. He argued that placing the funds in such an account undermines the urgency of addressing the current opioid crisis, suggesting the approach delays meaningful action on an ongoing public health issue.

• Rick Day 54:02 addressed the Council regarding a compensation study, making pointed accusations against the administration. Day alleged that the results of the compensation study had been manipulated or rigged, characterizing the conduct as financial fraud. He also directed criticism at the Council itself, taking issue with what he described as a failure to investigate the matter.

Appointments

The Council acted on several board and commission appointments during the May 12, 2026 meeting. The following individuals were appointed or reappointed to serve on various bodies:

• Amanda Secen was reappointed to the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers Board of Directors.
• Scott Davidson was appointed to the Downtown Lexington Management District Board of Directors.
• Debra Lawson, Cynthia Relford, and Tiana Wilson were each appointed to the Dunbar Neighborhood Center Board.
• Allison Connelly was reappointed to the Police Disciplinary Review Board.
• Wesley Whistle was reappointed to the Transit Authority Board.

In total, the Council confirmed seven appointments across five separate boards and bodies. Three of the actions were reappointments — Secen, Connelly, and Whistle returning to roles they had previously held — while the remaining four were new appointments. The Dunbar Neighborhood Center Board saw the largest single round of additions, with three individuals joining that body.

Contested Items

Two items drew public opposition during the May 12, 2026 Council meeting.

• Opioid Abatement Fund Allocation: Trevor Davis spoke out against a proposal to allocate $2 million to an interest-bearing account from the Opioid Abatement Fund. Davis argued that placing the funds in an interest-bearing account undermines efforts to address the ongoing opioid crisis, suggesting the money should instead be directed toward immediate abatement efforts. No outcome for this item was recorded in the available meeting data.

• Compensation Study: Rick Day accused the administration of manipulating the results of a compensation study, characterizing the conduct as financial fraud. Day also criticized the Council directly, arguing that members had failed in their oversight responsibility by not launching an investigation into the matter. No outcome for this item was recorded in the available meeting data.

Approval of Summary: Council Work Session, May 5, 2026

7:34

The Council took up Resolution 0386-26, the approval of the summary of motions from the May 5, 2026 Council Work Session.

Council Member Curtis and Council Member Baxter were the key speakers on this item. The Council considered the summary of motions as recorded from the prior work session and moved forward with its approval without noted controversy or significant debate.

• Resolution: 0386-26
• Outcome: Approved

Council Capital Projects, May 12, 2026

20:39

The council took up agenda item 0384-26, a presentation on ongoing and future capital projects covering budget allocations and project timelines.

Vice Mayor Wu and Council Member Sheehan were the key speakers during this agenda item. The discussion centered on the status of current capital projects as well as planning for future initiatives, with attention to how funds are allocated and when projects are expected to move forward.

The item was approved by the council.

*Note: The available data for this agenda item does not include specifics on individual project names, dollar amounts, timeline details, or particular concerns raised during debate. Readers seeking the full discussion are encouraged to consult the meeting video beginning at the 20:39 mark or review the complete meeting record for agenda item 0384-26.*

Presentation: Lextran FY2027 Budget

Agenda Item 0388-26 | 22:51

Fred Combs presented the Lextran FY2027 budget to the Council, describing a balanced operating budget and capital plan. The presentation covered service improvements and pilot programs under consideration for the upcoming fiscal year.

Key speakers during this agenda item included Fred Combs, Council Member Ellinger, and Vice Mayor Wu.

The item was informational in nature, and no vote or formal action was taken by the Council.

*Note: Detailed figures, specific program descriptions, and the substance of questions raised by Council Member Ellinger and Vice Mayor Wu are not available in the provided summary data.*