Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on August 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, with Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting included two agenda items: a presentation on Avory Woolery Day and a public hearing regarding FY2027 Ad Valorem Taxes. The Council took two motions to a vote during the session and heard public comments from two speakers. Both agenda items were informational in nature.

Attendance

Present: Amy Beasley, Hilary Boone, James Brown, Emma Curtis, Tom Eblen, Chuck Ellinger II, Whitney Elliott Baxter, Lisa Higgins-Hord, Shayla Lynch, Tyler Morton, Jennifer Reynolds, Liz Sheehan, and Dan Wu.

Absent: Joseph Hale and Dave Sevigny.

Late arrivals: None.

Votes and Decisions

The Council passed two budget ordinances by unanimous roll call vote.

Ordinance 0703-26 amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to provide funds for purchase orders and pre-paid expenses rolling from FY 2026 into FY 2027 passed 13-0. Chuck Ellinger moved the ordinance and Emma Curtis seconded it. All 13 council members voted in favor: Amy Beasley, Hilary Boone, James Brown, Emma Curtis, Tom Eblen, Chuck Ellinger, Whitney Elliott Baxter, Lisa Higgins-Hord, Shayla Lynch, Tyler Morton, Jennifer Reynolds, Liz Sheehan, and Dan Wu. No votes were cast against the ordinance.

Ordinance 0704-26 amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures, and appropriating and re-appropriating funds for FY 2027 Schedule No. 3 also passed 13-0. Chuck Ellinger moved the ordinance and Emma Curtis seconded it. The same 13 council members voted in favor, with no votes against.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved two financial agreements during the August 27, 2026 meeting:

Contract with Riggs Ward Design - Amount: $135,000 - Identifier: 0453-26 - Purpose: Agreement to provide plans and designs for interactive outreach tools

Grant Agreement with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - Amount: $519,200 - Identifier: 0627-26 - Purpose: Agreement for the Intelligent Transportation System/Congestion Management System Traffic Improvements Project

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the council regarding the Flock Safety camera contract.

Noah Cornett, representing the Bluegrass Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, urged the council to cancel the contract with Flock Safety. He raised privacy concerns and highlighted potential misuse of the camera system.

Billy Mallory spoke in support of the Flock cameras. He cited a decrease in crime in the East End and noted improved safety for residents as reasons to maintain the system.

Contested Items

Flock Safety Cameras

Community members expressed significant opposition to the proposed use of Flock Safety cameras. The primary concerns centered on privacy issues and the potential for misuse of the camera system. Numerous residents spoke during the meeting to voice their objections to the implementation of this surveillance technology.

The disagreement reflected broader community concerns about data collection and surveillance practices, with participants raising questions about how footage would be stored, accessed, and used by law enforcement and other agencies.

Avory Woolery Day

A presentation was made to honor Avory Woolery Day. The item was informational in nature and did not result in a formal decision or action item.

Public Hearing - FY2027 Ad Valorem Taxes

A public hearing was held to allow citizens to comment on the proposed FY2027 Ad Valorem Tax rates. The hearing provided an opportunity for community members to voice concerns and feedback regarding the proposed taxation for the upcoming fiscal year.

No specific speakers or detailed discussion points were recorded in the meeting materials. The hearing was conducted as an informational session to gather public input on the ad valorem tax proposal before any final council action.