June 13th, 2022
5th District Newsletter
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Hello Neighbors,
The fiscal year 2023 budget will receive its second reading and final approval at the June 23rd Council Meeting. The budget will take effect on July 1st, 2022. I have greatly appreciated the feedback we've received from the public as we've worked through this process. We have made historic investments in our community and have produced a balanced budget that aims to reflect our City's values.
In our last Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee meeting, Council received an update regarding the City's Energy Improvement Plan from James Bush with Environmental Services. He highlighted the City's efforts to increase energy efficiency across government-owned properties. LFUCG will continue to transition to LED lights and move towards more solar panels in this upcoming year.
Last week, LFUCG had the privilege of hosting a number of Lexington's seniors for our "Senior Intern Program" spearheaded by Councilmember Chuck Ellinger and our Director of Aging and Disability Services Kristy Stambaugh. Residents were able to learn first-hand about many parts of local government, and we ended the week with a graduation luncheon. I'm already looking forward to next year!
I was able to attend the Grassroots Black Leadership Awards ceremony held by the Blue Grass Community Foundation at the Lyric Theatre on June 7th. Congratulations to this year's honorees!
- Gerald “Geo” Gibson is the founder of Operation Making a Change (OMAC), a Lexington nonprofit that works to provide equal opportunity for youth and young adults of color who have experienced inequities in the judicial system. Gibson’s program teaches self-worth, encouragement, and motivation and is based on the premise that everyone deserves a chance to prove they can be productive citizens regardless of their past.
- Twin siblings Martina and Marcellus Barksdale are the founders of SoulFeast Week, which highlights and supports Black culinary and agriculture in Central Kentucky. SoulFeast grew out of the Barksdales’ #19DaysOfBlackBiz challenge in June 2020 as a communal effort to stimulate Black-owned businesses. Martina is currently a producer and TV host for WKYT’s Everyday Kentucky. Marcellus is an event manager and consultant who also serves on the LFUCG Parks & Recreation advisory board and the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild board of directors.
- Jaria Gordon and David Laurenvil are the founders of Kids MakeIt, a unique 21st Century educational institution solely focused on exposing youth to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) skills and careers. In 2021, hundreds of Kids MakeIt students in North Lexington and beyond learned about coding, microcomputers, aeronautics, science, art, urban agriculture, and engineering. Graduates of Kids MakeIt have gone on to excel in academic, community, and business endeavors.
The Lexington Police Department also held their first awards ceremony in a few years on June 9th. They issued awards to officers and community partners dating back to 2019. It was great getting to see the hard work of LPD being celebrated!
Finally, don't forget to mark your calendars for this year's Pride Festival! It will return to downtown on Saturday, June 25th from 11:00am-10:00pm at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza. For the first time, LFUCG will have a table at the event offering employment information, resources, and opportunities to join one of our local city boards. Lexington has also rolled out a new resource on the city website. I hope to see you at the festival!
Take care,
Liz
Upcoming Meetings:
Lex TV broadcasts live government meeting coverage, original programming and bulletin board information. You can find us on Spectrum channel 185 and MetroNet channel 3, view our live stream and archived meetings online or watch programming on our YouTube channel.
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LANSDOWNE MERRICK NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
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It was wonderful getting to join neighbors in Lansdowne Merrick for their first neighborhood meeting in over two years! Attendance was great and so were the conversations. Thank you to Michelle Kosieniak from Parks & Rec and Officer Andy Cain with LPD for being there to share resources and answer neighbors' questions.
Please feel free to reach out if you'd like me to join your neighborhood meetings!
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ON THE TABLE DATA AVAILABLE
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Our friends at CivicLex have released the data collected from this year's On the Table! They came to the Government Center to share their initial findings with Council on June 9th, 2022.
As a trained researcher, I want to stress the herculean task that their staff and LFUCG's Planning Department undertook to collect, code, and synthesize this amount of data. I'm impressed by the methods they used and the level of transparency they continue offer the public. The team at CivicLex will continue further analyzing the data and plan to release a full report in the fall. You can explore the raw data and some initial findings on their website.
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The Human Rights Commission recently held their first "Coffee with the Chief" at Greyline station since before the pandemic. It was great getting to sit down with Chief Weathers and his officers to discuss many issues affecting our community. I encourage you to attend future chats as you're able!
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NEW POLICE ROLL CALL STATION
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I was glad to join the Mayor, Police Chief Weathers, and Council colleagues to break ground on the first roll call station outside of New Circle Road and Man O’ War.
Previously, the East Sector Roll Call was located on Centre Parkway, in a facility rented by police. The new facility is being built on land already owned by the City, part of Veterans Park. It is next to Fire Station 22 on Clearwater Way. New fiber will be extended to the station to serve Fire, Police, Water Quality and Parks and Recreation.
“Keeping public safety in mind is paramount in planning for our City’s future,” Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said. “This new facility improves accessibility for our growing East Sector, and provides updated features to our offices and our citizens.”
Three Councilmembers have been involved in the project:
The new station is in the 12th District, represented by Kathy Plomin. “I am proud to have the East Sector Roll Call Center located now in the 12th District,” Plomin said. “The new site will be surrounded by vibrant neighborhoods and, of course, Veterans Park. It will be a welcome addition to the area.”
The East Sector Office is moving from Councilmember Fred Brown’s District. “The East Sector Roll Call Center has been located on Centre Parkway since 1999,” Brown said. “The space is small and not owned by the City. It’s now time to move to a larger space with city ownership. The new roll call center is still very close to the Tates Creek/ Centre Parkway area, and will continue to serve the 8th District.”
Councilmember James Brown, Chair of the Council’s Planning & Public Safety Committee, said, “I have been supportive of this project since it was first proposed. It’s another example of the city’s continued support and investment in public safety.”
The $4.2 million building will feature:
- Over 7,800 square feet of space;
- Much needed expanded operational space including a larger roll call room for officers to meet in at the start of each shift, and space for training programs;
- Expanded space for supervisors;
- A new bike room to store and work on bicycles, which are an integral part of the Police Department’s Bureau of Patrol community policing work; and
- A geothermal system for heat and cooling. It will be solar ready, to accommodate solar panels in the future.
The facility was designed by Brandstetter Carroll Inc. architects, and the contractor is Rising Sun Developing.
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In response to multiple requests, Lexington's department of Traffic Engineering recently installed a solar-powered speed feedback sign on Tates Creek Road in front of Morton Middle School. Remember to slow down and use caution in this area, especially during school hours.
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Have the street signs in your neighborhood faded over the years? If so please send me an email at lsheehan@lexingtonky.gov to get a replacement ordered!
Helpful information to include:
- The location of the intersection where the faded sign(s) are located
- Photos if you're able
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Celebrating Juneteenth is new for some; a long-standing tradition for others.
Lexington residents have celebrated Juneteenth for many years with events at both African Cemetery No. 2 and the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden. This year, in addition to both of those events, there are several new celebrations planned.
Juneteenth became an official federal holiday last year. Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States – the June 19th holiday honors the day all of the enslaved in the U.S. were legally freed.
“We are excited to support various community events happening throughout our city Juneteenth weekend. These celebrations will give people new ways to enjoy the holiday, and opportunities to learn more about its meaning,” Mayor Linda Gorton said.
Councilmember James Brown said, “With this being the first year the City has really been able to celebrate Juneteenth as a national holiday, it is important that we support a variety of local grassroots Juneteenth events and celebrations.”
Events highlighting the celebration in Lexington:
- Soulteenth will kick things off at Moondance Amphitheater on June 18 with a celebration of black liberation and ingenuity through music, art, agriculture, and food.
- Immediately following will be the 17th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee at African Cemetery No. 2. It highlights the spirit of freedom and honors the Civil War soldiers who fought for it.
- On June 19, a Juneteenth Festival will take place at Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden. The festival will include vendors, entertainment, kids’ activities, and community fellowship celebrating Black liberation.
- On the evening of June 19, a Juneteenth Celebration will take place at Douglass Park from 5 – 7 p.m., and include food, inflatables and music.
- The event features acclaimed members of the Affrilachian Poets. Hosts for the evening will be Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson and former Kentucky Poet Laureate Frank X. Walker.Affrilachian Poets Literary Event at the Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center.Capping off the celebration will be the
EVENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, June 18
Soulteenth
Moondance Amphitheater – 1152 Monarch St.
Noon – 7 p.m.
Juneteenth Jubilee
African Cemetery No. 2 – 419 E. Seventh St.
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 19
Juneteenth Festival
Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden – 577 E. Third St.
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Juneteenth Celebration
Douglass Park – 726 Georgetown St.
5 – 9 p.m.
Juneteenth Independence Day Celebration
Affrilachian Poets Literary Event
Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center – 300 E. Third St.
7 p.m.
Visit lexingtonky.gov/juneteenth for more information about the events and activities happening throughout the weekend across Lexington.
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Congratulations to this year's Senior Interns! I'd like to particularly congratulate our 5th District participants (pictured below the group photo): Richard, Charles, Sarajane, and Anne (not pictured).
I'd like to again thank Councilmember Chuck Ellinger, his Legislative Aide Shannon Settles, Director of Aging & Disability Services Kristy Stambaugh, and all of the LFUCG staff that helped make this program possible.
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Grow Smart Academy is a free, four-week program designed to educate Fayette County residents on land-use planning and its relationship to our community’s economic development, environment, and quality of life. It will be in-person for the first time in three years. Grow Smart Academy will be on Tuesdays, July 12, July 19, July 26, and August 2 from 5:30-7:30pm at various locations throughout Lexington.
Bikes, Bubbles, and Brunch will be a free community event on June 18 from 12:00-2:00 downtown at The Grove. It's a kick-off to Grow Smart Academy with the goal of bringing together GSA registrants, alumni, and folks who want to learn more about the program, while also encouraging them to explore our city.
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The Kiwanis Club of Lexington is thrilled to announce the return of the Lexington Duck Derby! Mark your calendars for June 25th!
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KENTUCKY THEATER SUMMER CLASSIC LINEUP
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The summer classics series is back! The Kentucky Theatre has released their lineup of classic films for this summer. You can catch any of these films at 1:30pm and 7:15pm showings!
- June 15 – “A Patch of Blue”
- June 22 – “Goldfinger”
- June 29 – “2001: A Space Odyssey”
- July 6 – “The Big Sleep”
- July 13 – “An American Werewolf in London”
- July 20 – “Sleeping Beauty”
- July 27 – “Bonnie and Clyde”
- Aug. 3 – “Stand By Me”
- Aug. 10 – “The Man Who Knew Too Much”
- Aug. 17 – “West Side Story”
- Aug. 24 – “Shakespeare in Love”
- Aug. 31 – “The Godfather”
- Sept. 7 - "The Big Lebowski"
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Volunteers are invited to help kick off the summer with a clean-up of the Kentucky River. The annual Kentucky River Clean Sweep will take place on Saturday, June 18. Participants will venture out in boats on the Kentucky River to collect trash from the 12 miles of river that touches Fayette County.
This is Lexington’s first River Sweep since 2019.
For over two decades, new volunteers have joined returning volunteers to spend one day each summer cleaning up the Kentucky River at a family-owned site near the Madison County border. Recently, the city entered into an agreement of sale for the property, which will be the first Lexington park with Kentucky River access.
River Sweep volunteers should gather at the site at 8:30 a.m. Participants will return to shore around noon, when a free lunch will be served. Volunteers will also be given a River Sweep t-shirt and a giveaway as a thank you.
Trash bags, gloves and some life vests will be provided. Volunteers should wear clothing that can get wet and boots or close-toed shoes. Volunteers who have life vests should bring their own. The River Sweep is a rain or shine event, so please dress for the weather.
At least a dozen boats are needed to transport the 80 or so volunteers who dedicate their Saturdays year after year. Participants with extra room on their boats for others are always appreciated!
Volunteers should register online at LexingtonKY.gov/RiverSweep or by calling LexCall at 311 or (859) 425-CALL.
Participants under 18 years of age must have a waiver signed by their parent or guardian. Waivers will be provided at the registration tent on the day of the River Sweep or can be downloaded from the registration website and brought to the event.
The Kentucky River Clean Sweep is sponsored by the city of Lexington and the Kentucky River Authority.
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Do you have an old pair of eyeglasses collecting dust or taking up space in "the" drawer? Donate them to someone in need!
When: June 22, 2022 from 9:00am-5:00pm
Where: 110 Conn Terrace, Lexington, KY 40536
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The Hope Center (a qualified HUD Envision Center) in Lexington, KY is seeking an AmeriCorps VISTA member to assist our Development Department with communications, fundraising and community outreach. The Hope Center provides life-sustaining services to homeless and at-risk individuals, and we are seeking a self-motivated, detailed-oriented individual who is ready to join our team! This is a full-time, 12 month service position through the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky's Homes for All AmeriCorps VISTA program.
Activities will include re-engaging lapsed donors, connecting with potential new donors, utilizing data in the Raiser’s Edge donor database, and increasing community awareness of the Hope Center mission. A successful candidate is someone who is an excellent communicator, able to work independently and as part of a team, and eager to learn new skills. Applications are currently being accepted through Indeed.
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NONPROFIT CAPITAL GRANT PROGRAM REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
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The City of Lexington is providing a one-time grant to local 501(c)(3) agencies for major capital projects in two categories:
1.) Facility improvement (ex., the purchase, construction, expansion, repair of a building, installation or major overhaul of HVAC systems, etc.)
2.) Operational investments (ex., purchase of major equipment, such as generators or vehicles).
Community nonprofit partners with established proven track records of performance that are located in Lexington Fayette-County are invited to apply. These grants are for capital projects, are funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, and are subject to federal reporting and spending requirements.
To be considered, completed proposals are due no later than 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21 via the LFUCG’s procurement software at https://lexingtonky.ionwave.net/Login.aspx. For assistance in registering, contact Katie Osborne at (859) 258-3320 or kosborne@lexingtonky.gov.
The proposal must contain the required documents and respond to each of the required narrative/application questions to be complete. Submissions containing significant omissions of the required information will be considered non-responsive and will be removed from the funding process and constitute an incomplete proposal.
Applicants who have questions regarding the RFP or the process should contact Todd Slatin at (859) 258-3320 or tslatin@lexingtonky.gov.
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LFUCG BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES
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Joining a board or commission is a great way to have your voices heard on local issues that matter to you. If you're looking for a way to give back and help to shape the direction of Lexington's future, I encourage you to review this list and apply! You'll find the current list of vacancies for the City's boards and commissions, application deadlines/requirements, and meeting schedules.
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Learn more about all current job openings here!
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