LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington's first Civic Assembly concluded Sunday with a series of recommendations that could reshape how the city's government operates, including a substantial increase in council member compensation and a new process for reviewing the city's charter.

The randomly-selected group of 36 Lexington residents, organized by CivicLex, a local civic engagement nonprofit, proposed three major changes to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Charter after weeks of deliberation and public input. The proposals require approval from the Urban County Council and ultimately a majority vote by local voters, according to the original source.

The most significant proposal calls for increasing council member compensation to $59,987 annually, aligned with the average wage in Lexington according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current council members earn approximately $40,000 per year. The salary would be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index if approved by voters, with implementation scheduled for 2031.

On charter review, the assembly recommended establishing an eight-year review cycle with public input requirements and time limits. Under the proposal, a 36-person commission selected through representative lottery would advise a standing committee of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, creating a formal process that would complement existing charter review options.

The assembly also advanced a recommendation requiring the council to create and publicly display attendance and accountability expectations for members. The group's recommendations needed 70 percent voter approval among assembly members to advance.

The civic assembly represents a historic moment for both Lexington and Kentucky. This marks the first civic assembly ever conducted in Kentucky, and one of the earliest in the nation. Participants were selected through a random lottery from across the county and included compensation for participation plus childcare and transportation stipends.

The assembly met over seven sessions beginning in early March, with participants hearing from local government officials and experts before developing and voting on proposals. The initiative was funded independently of local government through CivicLex fundraising efforts.

Council has committed to publicly responding to the assembly's recommendations. The council will vote on whether to place the proposals on the ballot for voters. If placed on the ballot, the changes would need a majority vote during Lexington's 2026 election to be adopted.

CivicLex says it is evaluating whether to use the assembly model again for future civic issues, potentially establishing citizen-led governance as a regular practice in Lexington.