LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mayor Linda Gorton announced sweeping changes to the city's winter weather response strategy Monday, following an internal review that identified critical gaps in coordination, communication and operational planning during recent snow and ice storms, according to CivicLex.

Gorton unveiled the results of a "military style review" during a news conference, proposing a $5.1 million budget increase for winter storm preparations next fiscal year — nearly double the current investment. The mayor plans to request the Urban County Council's approval Tuesday to contract with eight additional snow removal companies to bolster the city's response capacity.

The review, led by Emergency Management Director Robert Larkin, examined Lexington's response to Winter Storm Fern in late January, which brought 4.5 to 6 inches of snow followed by a quarter-inch layer of ice and extended cold that hampered treatment efforts. The analysis included feedback from more than 100 drivers, operators, supervisors and managers.

The after-action review identified six major deficiencies in the city's winter response. The primary limitation was not weather conditions alone, but the "absence of a clearly defined, adaptable operational strategy," according to the report. Additional problems included insufficient resource capacity and staffing levels, unclear management structures that hindered coordination, inconsistent internal and external communication, workforce training gaps, and lack of a formalized incident management system.

"While winter's ice has melted, unfortunately, the problems with our winter weather response did not disappear with it," Gorton said in a statement. "That will take work. Today we're taking the first of many steps before winter returns."

The city has struggled with multiple winter storms over the past two years, including a March storm that caused more than 150 crashes on slippery roads. That event prompted the resignation of the Environmental Quality and Public Works Commissioner and other leadership changes.

Gorton plans to establish a work group with City Council members and key staff to implement the review's recommendations. The mayor indicated the working group meetings would be internal rather than open to the public.