[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6671545,"mediaKeyId","2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea","parentId",2157842,"title","Votes at a glance: work session approvals on Jan. 28, 2025","audioSeconds",1,"startMs",319000,"endMs",320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea&start=319&end=320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea/thumbnail_319000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6671545/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Votes-at-a-glance-work-session-approvals-on-Jan-28-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671545-35e63be04e8d3a6ac58292327ff36776/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181476&Signature=TFYG1W~Y~a7egSOdwwmqmjuPZQxBxTzwHLm-MboV6MhRiVqq4kI~WhazuLWrkybS4zwtZ~GkJf~S07YfBBM9W4jB-yvIziI1lj-vIlxMK1VvVyueJTvBtAuhjKiQvghsYaEaV6VXfW63pZ74V04~Wx4N-aOLZSmnSArDiikYArZnfRfsMSb0v63qiDFMhrdBZT-w6~dZdmuJVgSventL5pIDhTrFZlPWy0ysbf4JgGiw5rJ1bCFCLArW0FowU~fl9pFnDTg0yaF-dhB~6ES3Zk5NWOplz8jmI4qHPCqq9KlnQSx4E9ZttB-GsoUyGXykWAqd08KOuaLc8t9eWWkBng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Urban County Council approved several routine items during the Jan. 28, 2025, work session, including acceptance of a previous work-session summary, a package of new-business items, neighborhood development funds and council capital projects.

Motion to approve Jan. 21 work-session summary
Ellinger moved; Vice Mayor Wu seconded. The council approved the summary by voice vote.

Motion to approve new business (package)
Council member Savigny moved; Council member Reynolds seconded. The package — which included personnel housekeeping for Parks and Recreation and a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Marshals Service (item J) — was approved by voice vote.

Motion to approve neighborhood development funds
Vice Mayor Wu moved; Council member Savigny seconded. Approved by voice vote.

Motion to approve council capital projects
Council member Gray moved; Council member Baxter seconded. Approved by voice vote.

There were no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript; all votes were adopted by the council via voice vote with no recorded dissents listed in the meeting transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - Council Work Session - Jan 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During the Jan. 28 work session the council approved its Jan. 21 summary, a package of new business (including personnel housekeeping and the U.S. Marshals memorandum), neighborhood development fund allocations and council capital projects.","taxTitle","Lexington City, Fayette County, Kentucky","taxId",5707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6671550,"Social services committee updates: affordable housing fund, juvenile treatment court, HOPE Center veterans project",415,1085000,1500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea&start=1085&end=1500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea/thumbnail_1085000.jpg","/articles/6671550/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Social-services-committee-updates-affordable-housing-fund-juvenile-treatment-court-HOPE-Center-veterans-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671550-9fa2f64ef104e4e6ae0357f89dec11d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181476&Signature=AIsAUa5-46-DrEvVDmGNHK6tqtmLn2-rc~uCiW1rRQDGMgeMoeIpMrhaxmqxiVQUcFOjY7tWp6qrqRikeMGC~cdcFC9e84ADRpkakS681AkDv1VcOM3q8KyZRXSo1uV8kZqNkbdeoX1ncoyz-XT92j6oxoEkRW1xCXk5mkBLslA12vxLXghUQ5SYsyZVakAFXsGOItLA7lrXfKq6zmovKTIMbn9~mqTNYGlH6epoju5XS5tdfEgemjtcqLXqLMZQtGLr5iPfTk~9UjqQ~VfwcC5SOkrT2y0f1ppmOVZi-IHv3LhtNSGNpWMufgcZfnTbo2LCDGiuArlemTTSYHv9eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council member Reynolds presented a report-out from the Social Services and Public Safety committee with updates on affordable housing, juvenile treatment court outcomes and a veterans housing expansion project.

Rick McQuadey, the city's affordable housing manager, summarized the affordable housing fund's purpose: to leverage public and private investment to preserve and produce safe, quality affordable housing for Fayette County residents whose incomes are at or below 80% of the area median income. McQuadey told the committee that adding owner-occupied units is difficult and that additional homeowner units often require substantial subsidy; he said a pro-housing grant application was in and the committee should hear something in the spring.

Judge Lindsey Hughes Thurston and Keevy Figgs, program coordinator, reviewed the juvenile treatment court (JTC). The committee report said JTC accepts some referrals and provides a four-phase approach that includes random drug screening, mental-health services and family and education supports. The report noted that since the court began on March 11, 2022, 39 of 70 referrals were accepted and there were 11 graduates from the program.

Jeff Crook, chief executive officer of the HOPE Center, updated the committee on a veterans housing expansion project described in the report as a $7,300,000 project. The report said the HOPE Center received $2,000,000 in ARPA funds and $1,500,000 from Veterans Capital Funds; fundraising to cover the remaining balance is in progress. The committee report said the project is progressing and expected completion was February 2025. The presentation clarified that ARPA funds were restricted under terms that prevent their use to expand emergency housing; those funds were directed to transitional housing or other forms of housing.

No committee action was taken on these items during the reported meeting; the committee's report was accepted as information at the work session.","The Social Services and Public Safety committee reported updates on the affordable housing fund, the juvenile treatment court and a veterans housing project by the HOPE Center that the report said has partial ARPA and veterans-capital funding and is continuing fundraising.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6671554,"Council reviews plan to abolish longstanding vacant Parks & Recreation positions",397,598000,995000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea&start=598&end=995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea/thumbnail_598000.jpg","/articles/6671554/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Council-reviews-plan-to-abolish-longstanding-vacant-Parks-Recreation-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671554-77c0a4a37f35b85973bcad4a5d3bf328/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181476&Signature=R0Z0K3PcrWfbExoh~p2sfVhdMcHwyNRHp5t8Cfi6rLUA1hgqFOYGoYn2Z2qRNsvW2EdSgxBCokwrjYcQ51-ODYABlEqPPdkUQ-YlUWzEZbBiWnPrsCedLAFzZeR5XH0WP9N8Nuk8WWRTCy87C8h62PW4GFWfkg6A1zSAwoEqcUZopOcv2AGNABwnjl8pfLuDmNSSGYR9D-Exc1Llquh~P5PzOdpF7Zi3Na46E7gWtOHJ3gQ9~sTK7DFgPaIKuIHYiqsLbhgp51bMQ-t5AmtD2mqmBku~t2jBTLBRyApjkfMe8SS4qNFQjHdm~4gtw0VmCxaa~SVDuzyoBer72PQutw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members pressed Parks and Recreation staff about a proposed abolition of several long-unfilled seasonal positions, and staff told the Urban County Council that the change is largely administrative and should not reduce current programming.

Council member Gray asked Parks whether removing the listed positions would reduce summer programming or lock funding to particular sites. Michael Johnson, deputy director of Parks and Recreation, said the positions have not been filled for several years and that the department has used seasonal staff such as recreational leaders and camp counselors to provide programming. \"We have not filled this position for several years,\" Johnson said, describing the removal as \"more of a housecleaning issue.\" He added the department routinely removes vacant, unfunded positions from the authorized strength.

Council member Morton asked whether, if the council later funded more positions in the budget, the positions on the schedule would be tied to specific sites such as Jacobson Park summer camp. A Parks staff speaker replied that if council decided to add permanent positions for programming, the administration would establish full-time job descriptions and advertise them; the department estimated about 90 days from job description to hire.

Parks staff said the seasonal job descriptions being removed are no longer used in the department's classification system and that the change should not affect current programming. The staff member said permanent positions could be established in a future budget if the council directed that funding.

Council members asked follow-up questions about timing and operational impacts; staff said positions listed as vacant and unfunded would not hinder the city's ability to create new job classifications and hire for summer programming if the council approved budgeted positions.

No amendment to the proposal was offered on the floor during the work session; the item was included in the new-business approval later in the meeting.","Council members questioned whether removing long-unfunded seasonal positions would affect summer programming; Parks staff said the roles have been vacant for years and can be re-created or funded later as needed.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6671560,"Lexington council hears caution, clarification on memorandum with U.S. Marshals",292,182000,474000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea&start=182&end=474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157842-f0b589fdd874a169f5731e8a2106eaea/thumbnail_182000.jpg","/articles/6671560/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Lexington-council-hears-caution-clarification-on-memorandum-with-US-Marshals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671560-12991fb80ca387402b4117642898f0a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181476&Signature=F3WXSMFZvTiHbVjwYVZ4Pkpcfs1fKbZLGjNCOjYwzB7NfZLjoc4YE3suYaTc0fWV7jJZyEqB13R9Kwsefi-gz~JV6OmxevPl1xumLxqHnuHjJugzG6kxKNHehKwcIc0Rps28avuZUB47EMFTsA7SLNw8enA-XMWmfXO96voIzLGrjuvg1CnuHLgQTjTSOdLa6Un5QBxXv9iVpCtjcFzWUwKw6AiB29x5TWzyaQ1g4DNDVEVrzION7aO4qRzVHQWwmsI4axyWcqGWYLJVqvzn77dpqKMhrM0T~JjL-N7-cSdKRDS0tRo0WHpeeO5m8U5kBGco0H1VpoPxsYTVdHV7cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A public speaker and council members pressed for clarity on a memorandum of understanding between Lexington police and the U.S. Marshals Service, which council members later approved as part of a package of new business.

Tyler Starrett, a resident from District 9, told the Urban County Council he was not \"advocat[ing] against the police department\" or the U.S. Marshals Service but urged \"a bit of caution.\" He said Lexington has seen reported violent crimes fall since 2023 and asked that any federal partnership be examined to avoid \"alienating the more vulnerable portions of our community with unnecessary federal intervention.\"

The council followed the public comment with questions for local law enforcement. A police representative identified in the meeting only as the chief's representative said the agreement continues a joint task force the city has worked with for decades. \"This is a partnership we've had for 30 years with the United States Marshals Service,\" the chief's representative said. He described the unit as a multiagency, national task force that helps local police \"use state, local, and federal resources to apprehend people who have active warrants for their arrest.\" He added the task force has assisted in finding missing children by leveraging federal and international relationships local police do not maintain.

Addressing concerns about immigration enforcement, Council member Gray asked whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was involved when the Marshals assist Lexington. The chief's representative replied directly, \"We do not.\"

The exchange left the council with a clearer description of the memorandum's stated purpose: to aid in locating people for whom local authorities have active warrants—particularly suspects in violent crimes who may have left the county or state—and to use federal resources in missing-children cases. The public comment and council questions emphasized a desire for transparency and community conversation about federal-local law enforcement partnerships before further expansion.

The memorandum was approved as part of the council's new-business package later in the work session.

Less urgent procedural items addressed later in the session included approvals of neighborhood development funds and council capital projects; council members did not debate amendments to the Marshals memorandum during the work session.","A public commentator urged caution before expanding partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service; police representatives said the memorandum continues a 30-year local partnership focused on locating people with active warrants and recovering missing children, and does not involve ICE.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: work session approvals on Jan. 28, 2025

Social services committee updates: affordable housing fund, juvenile treatment court, HOPE Center veterans project

Council reviews plan to abolish longstanding vacant Parks & Recreation positions

Lexington council hears caution, clarification on memorandum with U.S. Marshals