November 15th, 2021
5th District Newsletter
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Hello Neighbors,
Happy holiday season! Can it really be the middle of November already?! Council still has a lot of work to conduct before our formal winter break. This week we are anticipating an update from Kentucky Utilities regarding their vegetation management plan and the Council will discuss the proposed redistricting map as well.
This Thursday, November 18th, we will hear from KU at the re-scheduled Work Session beginning at 1:00pm. At this meeting, my colleagues and I are seeking clarity about their incorporation of the Mayor's six reasonable requests: consider the potential for changes and compromise to reduce the amount of tree cutting currently taking place; consider more robust revegetation on private and public property easements; provide better notification to neighborhoods and neighbors when there are plans to cut trees along electrical line routes; allow the City to provide input on the storm water study KU intends to conduct; study the Kentucky geological survey maps for sinkhole impacts from tree cutting; implement at least one 30-day moratorium on tree cutting to study and consider these requests.
After the Work Session, we will have a special Committee of the Whole for Councilmembers to discuss the proposed redistricting map submitted by the LFUCG redistricting committee. There will not be public comment available at this specific meeting; a public comment meeting has been set for December 1st at 5:00pm. I will continue to update you on these matters as we move forward.
Finally, I'd like to give you a brief update on where we stand on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Our next meeting to discuss the distribution of funds will occur on Tuesday, November 30th at 10:00am.
To date, Council has approved:
- $15 million for one-time supplemental pay for city employees
- $10 million for affordable housing
- $1 million for VisitLex to support the tourism industry, which was negatively impacted due to Covid-19
- $30,000 for broadband; $10,000 towards providing fiberoptic to 250 homes in the northern part of our county and $20,000 to develop RFP and prepare for passage of Federal Infrastructure bill.
- Up to $375,000 for Fayette County Sheriff's Office for one-time supplemental pay (motion approved at 11/9 Work Session to walk on at 11/18 Council meeting)
The following items have also been approved to move to the final list of projects for serious consideration:
- $991,000 to expand Commerce Lexington's Minority Business Accelerator
- $240,000 to expand "It Takes a Village" youth mentoring program
- $1,040,000 for Black & Williams Center Gym Rehabilitation
- $9,000,000 fund for non-profit capital projects
All of the previously submitted items from the subcommittee reports remain on the list for consideration, and nothing has been moved off the previous list at this time, the Council has just moved a handful of projects forward. Public input on how we utilize these funds is ongoing; please reach out if you have ideas on how we can best use the funds to directly address the impacts of this pandemic and help move our community forward with bold and transformative projects.
Take care,
Liz
Upcoming Meetings:
- Thursday, November 18th @ 1:00 pm: Work Session
- Thursday, November 18th @ 4:00pm: Redistricting Committee of the Whole
- Thursday, November 18th @ 6:00pm: Council Meeting
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VETERAN'S DAY CELEBRATIONS
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This past Thursday was full of celebrations honoring Lexington's veterans! We started the day by recognizing the veterans and active-duty service members who work for LFUCG. Our city government is proud to have veterans from every branch of the military represented within our ranks! I then joined my colleagues at Veteran's Park where we listened to an impressive slate of speakers, including 4th District Councilmember Susan Lamb whose office organizes the annual event, and took in a wonderful performance by the Veteran's Elementary chorus. As a military sibling, my family knows first-hand the honor, dedication, and sacrifice that so many of our servicemembers bring to our communities. Our city will continue to support and uplift our veterans.
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The Lexington Fire Department hosted Councilmembers and Legislative Aides for the first "Council Fire Field Day" in six years. We had an eye-opening and hands-on day of learning more about the day-to-day work that our Fire and EMS crews conduct for our city. This experience helped my colleagues and I grow a deeper understanding of the challenges and resource needs of the department, as well as the groundbreaking work our paramedicine team does to develop lasting relationships in the community.
This day was essentially an abridged version of the Citizens Fire Academy that is offered free-of-charge twice a year to all Fayette County residents. I encourage you to learn more and to apply for the program!
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IDLE HOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
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Thank you to the Idle Hour Neighbors Alliance for inviting Mayor Linda Gorton and I to your neighborhood meeting on Monday, November 8th! We were able to discuss a lot of city-wide updates as well as address neighborhood-specific concerns. As Mayor Gorton is fond of saying, "safe, healthy neighborhoods are what makes a City great," and organized neighborhood associations like those in Idle Hour are vital building blocks to improving our community.
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COVID-19 BOOSTER DOSES AVAILABLE
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The Health Department recently held booster shot clinics at the Lexington Senior Center here in the 5th District. I'm no fan of getting shots myself, but being vaccinated is the best way that we can protect ourselves and others as we enter the holiday season. I encourage you to get vaccinated if you're able and to get your booster dose if you qualify!
You can find more COVID-19 vaccine information for Fayette County near the end of the newsletter.
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Lexington Emergency Management will test its network of outdoor warning sirens TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at 10 am.
If you live near a park or golf course, expect to hear the outdoor siren sound a series of chimes followed by a voice announcement, “This is a test.”
This is a mid-month test is due to ongoing maintenance checks – THERE IS NO EMERGENCY – THIS IS FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY. Please do not call 9-1-1 about the siren test.
Remember: Lexington’s outdoor siren system is designed to alert people who are outdoors. The siren system is not intended to alert persons inside homes, apartments, or office buildings.
More information about the Lexington Warning Siren System is available at http://bereadylexington.com/siren-faq
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TREES LEXINGTON! TO DONATE TREE TO JOHNSON HEIGHTS PARK
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The wonderful folks at Trees Lexington! will be donating a new Autumn Breeze Maple to Johnson Heights Park on Sunday, November 21st at 1:00pm. There will be arborists on site to educate the public on tree care. Apple cider will be provided and the whole family is invited to help plant the maple tree! This new addition to the park will bring beauty, shade, pollution absorption, carbon sequestration and storm water reduction to the park for years to come. Wildlife will enjoy it too! You can learn more about this Kentucky native tree here!
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THANKSGIVING WASTE COLLECTION SCHEDULE
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Yard waste carts and bags will not be collected the week of Thanksgiving, only trash and recycling. Leaf vacuum collection will continue as scheduled (visit here for the schedule).
- Those with Monday or Tuesday service will have trash and recycling carts collected on their regular collection day.
- Households typically serviced on Thursday or Friday will be collected on Wednesday, November 24 instead.
- Regular service, including yard waste collection, will resume the week of Nov 29.
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NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK
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Nov. 13-Nov. 20 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
As we step into the Holiday season and the week before Thanksgiving, it is fitting to kick off National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. This is an opportunity to become more knowledgeable about needs in our community and thoughtful about how to meet those needs.
Take the Challenge: What is your Homelessness Awareness IQ?
The 5th District's Catholic Action Center and the Central Kentucky Housing and Homeless Initiative invite you to take the Homelessness Awareness IQ Quiz: 15 questions with multiple choice answers designed to enlighten about the reality of unsheltered homelessness in Lexington. It does not address the situations that have caused these folks to be unsheltered. It does not offer solutions to homelessness. It is simply 15 actual scenarios with often surprising answers. Only you will know your score; share the quiz with organizations, colleagues, family and friends!
https://caclex20006976.survey.fm/what-is-your-homelessness-awareness-iq
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The Lexington Parking Authority announced today that its LEXPARK program will once again run the “Food for Fines” canned food drive in partnership with God’s Pantry Food Bank. This year, the nationally recognized Food for Fines program runs from Monday, November 23 through Friday, December 18, 2020.
Customers who bring in 10 cans of food will receive $15 off any LEXPARK or Lexington Police issued parking citation. Customers with multiple citations may bring in as many cans as they wish and receive $15 credit for every set of 10 cans. Past due citations are eligible. The LEXPARK office is located at 122 North Broadway.
During the previous six years, LEXPARK has collected over 49,000 food items, the equivalent of nearly 24 tons or 36,700 meals. All canned food donations received by LEXPARK will be donated to God's Pantry Food Bank. Canned vegetables which are at least 14-15 oz. large and protein items such as canned meat, beans or peanut butter are suggested.
COVID-19 Note: Masks will be required and the LEXPARK staff will safely assist those making donations.
*Expired, damaged or opened food donations will not be accepted. Please be considerate when selecting donated items. LEXPARK reserves the right to revoke a customer’s participation in this program at any time.
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STONEWALL TERRACE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
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F.O.G.s Clog! Never pour Fats, Oils, or Grease down the drain
When: Friday, November 26; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Redwood School, 166 Crestwood Dr.
Frying a turkey this holiday and don’t know what to do with your used cooking oil?
Recycle it for free at the Gobble Grease Toss on Friday, Nov. 26 at Redwood Cooperative School, 166 Crestwood Dr. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cooking oil should never be poured down sink drains. It can solidify and clog pipes in your home. Oil and grease can even clog the city sewer lines, leading to sanitary sewer overflows – the discharge of untreated sewage into streets, yards and creeks.
Grease and cooking oil can be disposed by hardening it in the refrigerator or freezer and placing it in your green trash cart.
Gobble Grease Toss enables Lexington residents to divert hundreds of gallons of cooking oil that would otherwise end up in the trash. All oil and grease brought to the event should be in a disposable container with a lid, placed in the trunk of your car. Event staff will remove it; participants are asked to stay in their cars with their windows up.
The cooking oil that is collected will be used for biofuel research through a community partnership with the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (UK CAER), with the remainder recycled through a local oil hauler.
Redwood serves as a location for this event because its students and families are interested in improving the environment. “Redwood is looking forward to our annual partnership with LFUCG and UK CAER to help our community make environmentally sustainable choices during the holiday season,” said Sarah Cummins, Head of Redwood Cooperative School.
The Gobble Grease Toss is free for all Fayette County residents (no businesses, please).
For more information on the Gobble Grease Toss, call LexCall at 3-1-1 or (859) 425-2255 or visit LexingtonKY.gov/GobbleGreaseToss.
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The Lexington Public Library is planning a new facility to replace the current Village Branch along Versailles Road. Please join us for an Open House to learn more about the project and provide your feedback on Friday, November 19th at 4pm.
An online survey is also available here in English, French, or Spanish.
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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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