LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council approved and released official minutes from its May 14 meeting, which included a public hearing on the city's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and votes on several zoning amendments and city contracts.

At the May 14 meeting, Mayor Linda Gorton held the public hearing for the proposed $546 million FY 2027 budget, which would eventually be approved by council on June 9. During public comment, one resident asked council members to reconsider funding allocations for Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Bluegrass and redirect them to ONE Lexington.

The council voted unanimously to approve five ordinances on second reading, including a zoning change for 38.998 acres at 3515 Richmond Rd. from Agricultural Urban to Medium Density Residential, and a similar rezoning for property at 4184 Todds Rd. The council also approved budget amendments totaling nearly $100 million related to municipal expenditures and opioid abatement settlement funds, and updated civil service positions in the Division of Water Quality.

On solar energy systems, the council approved a resolution on second reading with a 10-5 vote to initiate zoning ordinance text amendments to Article 31. The amendments address definitions, permitted uses in various zones, agricultural zone clarifications, and brownfield and community benefit agreement provisions.

Mayor Gorton proclaimed May 14 as Lexington Catholic High School Girls Track and Field Day, honoring the team's fourth consecutive Class 2A, Region 4 championship and recognition as three-time defending state champions. The Knights dedicated their victories to the memory of Eli Sloan, a beloved classmate who recently died after battling cancer.

The council unanimously approved multiple service contracts, including agreements with Kona Ice for frozen treat vending at aquatic facilities at no cost to the government, and a $81,000 contract with I/O Solutions for police promotional testing. Water Quality division contracts included a $13,716 lease renewal for automated external defibrillators with CINTAS and a $4,500 change order with Banks Engineering for surveying services.

The council also approved a second amendment to an agreement with Reach, Inc., under the Home Investment Partnerships Program, increasing subsidy amounts to $50,000 per household for first-time homebuyers with no cost to the government. Two construction bids were accepted: Pace Contracting for $424,000 for the West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant high flow diversion box replacement, and Herrick Co. for $3.1 million for treatment plant final clarifier coating work.