[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6652817,"mediaKeyId","2489313-21ebf4c84b7ad5ce0cb8f41bf3845ae1","parentId",2489313,"title","Lexington committee moves downtown master plan toward consultant selection, emphasizes anti‑displacement and public engagement","audioSeconds",538,"startMs",214000,"endMs",752000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2489313-21ebf4c84b7ad5ce0cb8f41bf3845ae1&start=214&end=752","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2489313-21ebf4c84b7ad5ce0cb8f41bf3845ae1/thumbnail_214000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6652817/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Lexington-committee-moves-downtown-master-plan-toward-consultant-selection-emphasizes-antidisplacement-and-public-engagement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652817-3b6ffd141bfafd238967004b08bbf5d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196220&Signature=QwmGQnASPWjA5wz6NSYmMuko4Q0DzbXp-0MYXYguqSfNOjwyvA-0XGFbOSLeFw~rL7AAxEBhD2j55oiqh9Nv~41Y9B4xidT-sbs3NxD5efV8s9B3g8Vxm4d1jJaupI1dO7Ygwt9t5GBn9h7dVogDhtq0fF3uv2OvHElvYSxi8AWo2elcREOq0XI3e~Csg3fvvZob6ziwIbjWhnhML9h~o9ajK~Y-Auv9MDvZQuVO1ZZxNBOcVLlbqiaNe7SxzvEWH05U1zPkplfzZW4AeXoQ-xD4nvx1PSeUcjht14-LeXUZnWErETekLfjGtPkg2zijNmJ~qqb-KEBJkpwvFQU-pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","The General Government and Planning Committee heard an update March 4 on the downtown area master plan process, including that funding is in place and a request for proposals (RFP) is underway to hire a consultant to lead research, outreach and drafting of the plan.

Staff said the project will implement the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan placemaking policy and will produce a downtown master plan that, if completed as proposed, would be considered as an amendment to the comprehensive plan.

Senior Long Range Planner Boyd Sayway told the committee the downtown master plan is “a direct response to the 2045 comprehensive plan, specifically placemaking policy number 13, which calls for an update to the downtown master plan.” He said the selected consultant will perform research, lead stakeholder outreach and refine a preliminary infill and redevelopment study area the city provided as a starting point.

Why it matters: Committee members repeatedly emphasized concern about displacement and the need for inclusive public engagement. Council member Lynch asked that anti‑displacement be explicitly included in the consultant scope; staff confirmed that anti‑displacement analysis was written into the RFP. Council member Savigny and others pressed for clarity on how the downtown boundary will be set and what role council members will play in outreach.

Key points from the presentation and committee discussion

- Funding and schedule: Staff said funding for the project is secured and the RFP process is active. The consultant contract is expected to run about 18 months from selection, during which the consultant will conduct data analysis, stakeholder engagement, draft recommendations and finalize the plan for adoption consideration by the Planning Commission.

- Scope and policy alignment: Sayway said the master plan will be an amendment to the comprehensive plan if adopted and will guide future land‑use decisions for downtown. The presentation cited the last formally adopted downtown plan as coming from the 1960s and noted that a 2007 downtown study was not formally adopted; staff said the new plan should carry the formal weight of the comprehensive plan.

- Boundaries and process: The RFP asks the consultant to propose a downtown study area using data, planning best practices and community input. Sayway and Hal Bailey, Manager of Long Range Planning, told members the city currently has no formal downtown boundary and the consultant will recommend one based on the research and outreach.

- Anti‑displacement requirement: Multiple members asked that the work explicitly address displacement risks. Sayway confirmed that anti‑displacement measures are included as a required element of consultant submissions and will be part of the studies (housing, business, entertainment) the consultant is expected to deliver.

- Engagement strategy and partners: Staff said outreach will include residents, downtown businesses, and major local institutions (the University of Kentucky, Transylvania University and Bluegrass Community and Technical College were cited) and that the first public engagement event will be timed to an upcoming city celebration to broaden participation.

What the committee directed or decided

No final plan or legislative action was taken at the March 4 meeting. The committee received the presentation and asked for continued engagement with council members on outreach in their districts; staff said they will rely on council members to help publicize meetings in the six council districts that overlap the preliminary infill and redevelopment area. Staff also committed to bringing the RFP, consultant selection timeline and further details on community engagement back to the committee as the process advances.

Details and numbers mentioned in the meeting

- Project contract length discussed: roughly 18 months once a consultant is selected.
- The preliminary infill and redevelopment study area was developed using historical map resources and will be refined by the consultant; the map is a starting point, not a final boundary.

Context and next steps

Staff said they will refine the study area with the consultant and produce an engagement plan. Council members asked staff to report back with more detail on outreach methods, anti‑displacement strategies and timing for consultant selection. The committee did not take a formal vote on the master plan itself at this meeting.

Ending: Staff invited council members to participate in outreach and reiterated that the selected consultant will work with planning staff and community stakeholders to draft a plan for eventual consideration by the Planning Commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - General Government and Planning (GGP) Committee - Mar 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The General Government and Planning Committee heard an update March 4 on the downtown area master plan process, including that funding is in place and a request for proposals (RFP) is underway to hire a consultant to lead research, outreach and drafting of the plan.","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},6652813,"CivicLex report finds uneven representation and functionality across Lexington boards; council to form subcommittee",2116,1450000,3566000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2489313-21ebf4c84b7ad5ce0cb8f41bf3845ae1&start=1450&end=3566","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2489313-21ebf4c84b7ad5ce0cb8f41bf3845ae1/thumbnail_1450000.jpg","/articles/6652813/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/CivicLex-report-finds-uneven-representation-and-functionality-across-Lexington-boards-council-to-form-subcommittee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652813-db818acccca7ddd436ffbfd12206ed96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196220&Signature=fdNNxU1wAwffue3L8eKyYwimXYoOeto6P1KoivfO~tGbV~QaMd5Dv9sYzPnryPHiOTrM1CRrVdzk2SI0JXGzJBURtUCssHL-eg4DIcCcB7bRcFVLi-LwaI5fegIY0FmdmlbehGeP36kuntCvFobkE1-nEHlgdE~TDn5lSJ4CzjThhYTRG92rnrO6DWWokSDm1109ZXoB82FX4DF6lW0Q9WZ0vQ5athZvE7acpSJFjWKNbnSxp4j6sPgxqZVEFIXW7iMTHeIN~VQ8RqFMBxNZ~RCQLM6yRec1z-vO7CyTnUCetG~faXQOYSupbjyBjkNmlK8yqhyt7dsvIVg5BhEBtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CivicLex and partner CivStart presented a 90‑page assessment March 4 on Lexington’s boards and commissions, identifying uneven representation, inconsistent processes and technology gaps and offering 54 recommendations to improve recruitment, functionality, accessibility and transparency.

Kit Anderson, deputy director of CivicLex, told the General Government and Planning Committee the study mapped 67 boards and commissions and that the consulting team attended 41 boards and commissions meetings, conducted surveys of members and staff and held 260 face‑to‑face public conversations and a high‑school focus group.

“We were trying to gather data and information about the boards and commissions that currently exist,” Anderson said, summarizing the project’s three main goals: inventorying boards, assessing what is and isn’t working, and proposing recommendations.

What the study found and recommended

- Representation gaps: The consultants reported that younger people, renters and Hispanic residents are underrepresented on boards and commissions. The presentation cited that about 16% of Lexington residents are aged 20–29 while only 2% of board members are in that age group; about 44% of housing units are renter‑occupied while 91% of board members reported being homeowners; Hispanic residents were reported as underrepresented compared with county demographics.

- Functionality and capacity: Observers noted inconsistent meeting processes, recordkeeping and staff support. The report highlights high vacancy rates on some boards, unclear roles and instances of boards operating outside their scope.

- Technology and accessibility: The report identified uneven technology use across boards (hybrid meetings, Google Drive, Granicus modules), recommended document management improvements and suggested digital‑literacy training for some members.

- Recommendations and next steps: CivicLex and CivStart proposed 54 recommendations across four priority areas (representation, functionality, accessibility and transparency). The teams will publish anonymized data and tailored “snapshot” reports for individual boards; staff will receive draft snapshots on March 10 and have two weeks to respond. Council member Lynch and Vice Mayor Wu said they will convene a council subcommittee to work through implementation steps.

Council response and implementation discussion

Council members welcomed the report. Council member Curtis, citing his own demographics (20–29 age bracket, renter and resident of a low‑representation district), urged actionable steps to build trust and broaden recruitment. CivicLex representatives said practical changes—clearer online information, consistent agendas and minutes, broadened recruitment outreach and improved meeting functionality—could increase trust and participation.

Vice Mayor Wu and Council member Lynch said the report’s peer‑city comparisons were useful and that the recommendations should be tailored to Lexington’s government operations. Staff described plans to release board snapshots for staff feedback (two‑week response window with a March 21 deadline) and to anonymize and publish the project’s underlying data to support implementation planning.

Ending: Council members said they will form a subcommittee to consider legislative, budgetary and staffing steps to implement the recommendations and to avoid shelving the report. CivicLex said the snapshots and published data will inform the subcommittee and future action.","CivicLex and partner CivStart presented a 90‑page assessment March 4 showing uneven representation and functionality across Lexington’s 67 boards and commissions and offered 54 recommendations to improve recruitment, technology use, transparency and accessibility.",{"_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},6652808,"City reports drop in short‑term rental listings after compliance work; 979 listings remain, 712 licenses renewed",886,3564000,4450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2489313-21ebf4c84b7ad5ce0cb8f41bf3845ae1&start=3564&end=4450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2489313-21ebf4c84b7ad5ce0cb8f41bf3845ae1/thumbnail_3564000.jpg","/articles/6652808/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/City-reports-drop-in-shortterm-rental-listings-after-compliance-work-979-listings-remain-712-licenses-renewed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652808-0867d23e87bd014e473ac465705be4a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196220&Signature=hpSTYrND0tBolXGiW-xvXeSMLuiXNoAWbNpGAheH1oGXdknG3J6M042p5MxJ4CMsLxF~dE15O8x1YgeSBPZ22WnWJ3h719GRuaHRV-cLWsx4KRV5fRfCdBTcIoZB1~gwDamoqZLTfdZmnhmdoJvgNLOW~Jb~6OIIWoJg9pD3KjPfyCrzOQtt01qd0h8ZdIt8HD54OX-D-6~0HpUHR4IgVMODag5wxxJnPuyu44QGW5TMFePEWT3kv9epNki5oBw0RTvAfU0RQ3oaZjf0PmZ1U2vXkqiicIrnhPGZUnIhx4QUyjPE-gLFaHXjbsT3gKvmzKVbiIjMKR4vY5CSuymgWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The General Government and Planning Committee received an update March 4 from the Division of Revenue on short‑term rental (STR) compliance and licensing, including enforcement work, renewals and a new complaint hotline.

Wes Holbrook, Director of Revenue, told the committee the short‑term rental ordinance was adopted July 11, 2023, and that the city required a registration and licensing process with a renewal deadline of January 31 each year. As part of the compliance program, the city selected Granicus software to identify listings and manage complaints.

Holbrook reported that the number of identified listings fell from about 1,300 when the identification software first went live to 979 current listings at the time of the presentation. He said the city issued 16 citations in total (14 for operating without a license and two for nuisance violations), with roughly $4,700 collected and about $7,000 outstanding. One citation appeal was successful. He also said the city was working on notices for an additional set of properties and had several properties pending citation.

Licensing and revenue

Holbrook said 712 license renewals were processed (438 original properties plus 274 additional properties), producing about $115,000 in regulatory revenue. The city’s regulated license fees are $200 for the first unit and $100 for each additional unit annually; revenue must be used for STR regulation including software and staff costs, Holbrook said.

Hotline and enforcement

The city launched a short‑term rental hotline late in 2024 that integrates with the Granicus software. Complainants can submit voice calls, photos and videos; staff can view call transcripts and contact emergency or non‑emergency police when requested by complainants. Through the hotline the city logged 31 valid calls (some had been test calls or out‑of‑jurisdiction), mostly about noise and unlicensed operations. Holbrook said some listings are difficult to identify when operators intentionally mask addresses and photos online.

Operational notes and next steps

Holbrook said staff made extra efforts during the first annual renewal cycle (mailings, phone and email outreach) and that winter weather delayed some postmarked renewals. The Division of Revenue uses Paymentus/JPMorgan for online payments; auto‑renew functionality is not yet available but is planned as a later phase of the licensing software rollout. Staff said they continue to identify listings through the software and to work through the remaining notices and citations.

Ending: Committee members thanked the division for the work. Staff said they will continue enforcement and process refinements and will bring updates on identification, citations and software implementation as those items progress.","The Division of Revenue told the General Government and Planning Committee that short‑term rental listings identified by city software declined from roughly 1,300 to 979 after registration and compliance work, and that 712 license renewals generated about $115,000 in regulatory revenue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lexington committee moves downtown master plan toward consultant selection, emphasizes anti‑displacement and public engagement

CivicLex report finds uneven representation and functionality across Lexington boards; council to form subcommittee

City reports drop in short‑term rental listings after compliance work; 979 listings remain, 712 licenses renewed