February 7th, 2022
5th District Newsletter
|
|
Hello Neighbors,
February is Black History Month, and Fayette County has a lot of wonderful ways to celebrate the contributions of our black neighbors and historical figures. The LFUCG Parks and Recreation Department has a wonderful series highlighting important parks and community centers throughout Black History Month to celebrate their namesakes, importance, and impact on the community. You can learn more about this program in the newsletter below.
I'd like to, again, take time to thank our public safety officers, streets and roads crews, waste management personnel, and E-911 workers for their efforts in these recent winter storms. The work is far from easy, but their dedication to keeping Lexington safe and clear is unparalleled. If you did not have trash pick-up on Friday, you will have your bins serviced this coming Friday. I have put in a request for additional information, so if you have any specific questions or concerns about your waste collection please reach out to me directly.
At the February 1st, 2022 Work Session I placed an item into the General Government & Social Services committee. With the dramatic rise in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, I've been in communications with the LFUCG office of Substance Use Disorder Intervention to coordinate an update on ongoing efforts and where we may need additional support. There are many psychological impacts of isolation and treatment programs having to cease in-person support for a number of months that we are just now beginning to understand. I will keep you all updated as this item moves forward.
Councilmembers have recently been assigned to their budget links (subcommittees) for the FY 23 budget season. I've been asked to serve as the Chair of the General Government link this year, after serving as a member of the same link last year. You can see the full link assignment list here.
Finally, Council will be determining a new date for the postponed Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on Tuesday, February 8th. The meeting had been scheduled for Thursday, February 3rd, but had to be postponed after the Government Center was closed due to weather in order to keep our employees safe and off the roads. Check our social media pages to learn when the rescheduled meeting will take place.
Take care,
Liz
Upcoming Meetings:
|
|
|
CITY MEETINGS REMAIN VIRTUAL
|
|
|
|
The Council voted to continue holding official meetings virtually. We will reassess this decision at the Council Meeting on Thursday, February 10th.
|
|
|
LEXINGTON FORUM WELCOMES DR. LIGGINS
|
|
|
Thursday, February 3rd 2022, the Lexington Forum welcomed Dr. Demetrus Liggins, the Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent. Lexington Forum Board President Brad Farley guided the discussion that included a wide range of issues.
Dr. Liggins highlighted FCPS's efforts to retain and attract employees in the face of a historic staffing shortage. He praised the hard work of our public school teachers who continue to rise to the occasion and put our children's education front-and-center. Dr. Liggins also spoke at length about the achievement gaps that exist, and in some cases, have worsened during the pandemic. He shared his passion and track record for addressing issues of equity, and focused on the high number of specialized educational programs in Fayette County as a good start to addressing the specific needs of our kids.
As a fellow educator and parent of a middle school student in FCPS, it was a great opportunity to hear directly from Dr. Liggins on where we are and where we are going as a community.
The Lexington Forum meets every first Thursday of the month. Check the website above to see upcoming discussions as they are scheduled!
|
|
|
SENIOR SERVICES COMMISSION UPDATE
|
|
|
|
At the Friday, February 4th Senior Services Commission meeting, the Fayette County Health Department updated us on COVID-19 case numbers. We are hopeful that rates will continue to plateau and decline based upon Friday's numbers. In the meantime, it is still important for all of us who can be vaccinated to do so, wear good fitting masks when in public settings, and to get tested regularly.
The Commission also discussed our takeaway's from the Accessory Dwelling Unit conference that took place last week. You can learn more about the conference further down in the newsletter.
The Senior Center (located in the 5th District) continues to be a highly utilized resource for our community. You can review the 2021 annual report and take a virtual tour of the center here!
|
|
|
LEXINGTON PARKS & RECREATION CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
|
|
|
|
|
Lexington’s Division of Parks & Recreation is highlighting important parks and community centers throughout Black History Month to celebrate their namesakes, importance and impact on the community. Each week of February, a park or community center will be featured with history, quotes and historic photos shared on social media. There are events scheduled throughout the month celebrating black culture and history within the city.
For Feb. 6 – 12, Martin Luther King Park, named after civil rights activist and minister Martin Luthor King Jr., will be featured. Opening in 1986, MLK Park, located in the Winburn neighborhood, is one of the larger parks in the city at 37.6 acres and offers football and baseball fields, basketball courts, and a recently finished futsal court. It has hosted youth football games under Parks & Recreation since the park’s opening over 35 years ago.
Douglass Park, named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass, will be the featured location for week three, Feb. 13 – 19. Douglass Park, which opened in 1916, serves as the host to Lexington’s legendary “Dirt Bowl” summer basketball league. The league, which has been active since the 1970s, has seen countless talented players and was known for drawing the best athletes from the region each summer. It was featured as one of the premier summer leagues in Sports Illustrated in 1983. Today Douglass Park is a hub of activity for sports, swimming, music, and other entertainment that serves the neighborhood, nearby Booker T. Washington Elementary, and greater Lexington.
The fourth week, Feb. 20 – 26, features Artworks at the Carver School. Now a Parks & Recreation community and arts center, Carver School, named after scientist George Washington Carver, was an all-black elementary school from 1934 to 1972 seated in the historic Davis Bottom neighborhood. The center will host a free Black History Screen Printing Workshop on Feb. 26, where the public is invited to make prints featuring quotes from prominent black Kentucky authors. Neighborhoods kids around community centers will have transportation provided to participate in a private workshop the day before.
For the final week, William Wells Brown Community Center, named after author and Lexingtonian William Wells Brown, will be featured from Feb. 27 – March 5. This community center, in partnership with Fayette County Public Schools, resides in the historic East End neighborhood near downtown. The center hosts numerous programs for students and has a Black History Month event planned for students paying tribute to the neighborhood and featuring various performances.
Additionally, throughout February Lexingtonians are encouraged to go view the “Exposure” art exhibit at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center. The exhibit is a celebration of a diverse group of photographers of color in and around The Bluegrass. Admission to the exhibit is free.
|
|
|
|
"New parks, rising rent, more businesses, increased traffic, better sidewalks - all across Lexington, our city is growing and changing. In this year’s On the Table, we’re facilitating a community-wide conversation about the Comprehensive Plan, a city document that impacts all of these issues and more."
We need your voices as our community comes together to help shape Lexington's future. This year's On the Table will have both in-person and virtual components; I hope to see you there! Learn more and register here.
|
|
|
NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT MATCH GRANT PROGRAM
|
|
|
|
The Corridors Commission will accept applications for the Neighborhood Enhancement Match Grant Program until March 1st.
The grant program is designed to enhance Fayette County’s corridors by partnering with neighborhoods and other community-based groups to make improvements.
There are 31 eligible corridors. Grant proposals must be for areas that abut a corridor or are on a corridor. Applications should include activities that are open to the public and benefit the whole corridor, for example:
- Physical improvements to public or community property;
- Activities to plan, promote, or finance voluntary clean-ups;
- Neighborhood improvement efforts; or
- Activities to enhance the beauty of corridors through landscape maintenance.
The program is a 2:1 matching grant, which means for every $1.00 requested, the applicant must provide an additional $0.50 match.
Learn more about the Corridors Neighborhood Enhancement Match Grant by visiting the Corridors Commission website.
Eligible Corridors:
- Alumni Drive (Nicholasville Road to Man O War Blvd.)
- Athens Boonsboro Road (Man O War Blvd. to I-75)
- Broadway
- Citation Blvd. (Leestown to Newtown Pike)
- Clays Mill Road
- Georgetown Road (New Circle to Iron Works)
- Georgetown Street
- Harrodsburg Road
- High Street
- Iron Works Pike
- Leestown Road
- Liberty Road
- Limestone
- Main Street
- Man O War Blvd.
- Manchester Street (Jefferson Street to Forbes)
- Maxwell Street
- Midland Avenue
- New Circle Road
- Newtown Pike (South Broadway to Iron Works Pike)
- Nicholasville Road
- Old Frankfort Pike
- Paris Pike (New Circle Road Iron Works Pike)
- Richmond Road (Hanover to I-75)
- Russell Cave Road (North Broadway to Iron Works Pike)
- Tates Creek Road (Sunset to Ashgrove Pk.)
- Todds Road (Man O War Blvd.to Polo Club Blvd.)
- Upper Street (Main Street to South Limestone)
- Versailles Road (Angliana to Man O War Blvd.)
- Vine Street
- Winchester Road (Third Street to Man O War Blvd.)
|
|
|
LEXINGTON & LOUISVILLE VIRTUAL ADU CONFERENCE
|
|
|
The virtual ADU conference covered many topics and was highly informative! We learned about a range of approaches that other communities have used to address accessory dwelling units, as well as a broader conversation about "missing middle" housing. There are truly innovative approaches to "attainable housing" being tested across the country.
If you'd like more information, please visit here.
The recordings of the conference will be uploaded to the above website in the near future.
|
|
|
LEGACY TRAIL DETOUR TO BEGIN TODAY
|
|
|
|
A section of the Legacy Trail will be detoured to allow for utility installation between the new Upper Cane Run wet weather storage tank and an existing pump station. The detour is scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 7, depending on weather conditions.
Trail users will be able to ride around the construction site via Development Dr. and will join the original trail route where it crosses Creek View Dr.
The trail is expected to reopen by Friday, Mar. 11.
|
|
|
WORKSITES SOUGHT FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM
|
|
|
|
|
The 2022 Summer Youth Job Training Program (SYJTP) seeks local businesses and community-based organizations to serve as worksites for this year’s program. SYJTP offers Lexington youth the opportunity to gain work experience, develop interpersonal skills, and learn and explore vocational interests all while earning income during the summer.
“We’re so excited to bring back the Summer Youth Job Training Program this year after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic,” said Partners for Youth Executive Director Briana Persley, who administers the program. “The program provides a wonderful opportunity for Lexington youths to gain real-world skills as well as an opportunity for our community partners to teach and inspire.”
As part of the Summer Youth Job Training Program, participating employers do not incur direct wage costs. All the youth workers’ wages and employment-related costs are paid directly by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. However, each worksite’s investment in training, supervision and mentorship of youth workers is an invaluable component of the public-private partnership.
The high school students will work part-time, up to 20 hours per week, and will earn $15 per hour. The program runs for six weeks, beginning June 13 through July 22, 2022. Three hundred students are expected to participate in this year’s program.
Interested businesses and organizations in Lexington are encouraged to apply on the City’s website. The deadline to apply to be a 2022 worksite is Friday, March 11. A worksite orientation is scheduled for March 23 at 8:30 a.m. at the Picadome Golf Course, 469 Parkway Dr.
|
|
|
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT HEARING FOR DUKE ROAD
|
|
|
|
On Monday, February 14th, 2022 at 1:30pm there will be a public hearing before the Board of Adjustment regarding Bluegrass Care Navigators application for a conditional use permit. They are seeking the ability to open a residential hospice facility on Duke Road. Details of the meeting are below.
"PLN-BOA-22-00003: BLUEGRASS CARE NAVIGATORS – requests a conditional use for a nursing home in order to establish a residential hospice facility in Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3)/Neighborhood Character Design (ND-1) Overlay zones, on property located at 319 Duke Rd. (Council District 5)
The Staff Recommends: Approval, for the following reasons:
a. Granting the requested conditional use permit should not adversely affect the subject or surrounding properties, as the proposed hospice use will contain the same number of beds, will utilize the existing building, and will be similar in terms of hours and patterns of operation as the assisted living facility that was previously approved at this location.
b. All public facilities and services continue to be available and adequate for the new facility.
This recommendation of approval is made subject to the following conditions:
- The property shall be operated in accordance with the submitted application materials and site plan.
- All necessary permits and/or approvals shall be obtained from the Divisions of Planning and Building Inspection, as well as necessary state agencies, prior to occupancy."
Please utilize the following information to participate in this public hearing:
https://zoom.us/join
Webinar ID: 850 3932 2274
Password: 924078
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85039322274?pwd=dHplZlo4Sm1YZ1kxN3hmT25sMTB1Zz09
Call in Number +1 (929) 436-2866
|
|
|
BUDGET, FINANCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE
|
|
|
On Tuesday, January 25, the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee had its first meeting of 2022. To begin the meeting, Chairwoman Bledsoe welcomed Jeanna Jones of Strothman & Co. to provide the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACRF) for LFUCG. Lexington received the highest, unmodified audit opinion, stating that our financial statements represent fairly the financial position of the Government as of 6/30/2021.
You can view the full summary here.
|
|
|
LFUCG BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Learn more about all current job openings here!
|
|
|
|
|
