[{"_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",6531019,"mediaKeyId","3626866-f78de22071ef11cb4752ca17f0e14875","parentId",3626866,"title","Public raises concerns as city considers MOU allowing UK Army ROTC training in Hysel Park","audioSeconds",2759,"startMs",1007000,"endMs",3766000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626866-f78de22071ef11cb4752ca17f0e14875&start=1007&end=3766","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626866-f78de22071ef11cb4752ca17f0e14875/thumbnail_1007000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531019/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Public-raises-concerns-as-city-considers-MOU-allowing-UK-Army-ROTC-training-in-Hysel-Park","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531019-d0e1927c35f65daf9128aecec3441d0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174583&Signature=OwgGSm5SHhtATfTQYmR~m6rcw2PZCZlwp4GRxz1d-rnYPOanRxIpYCkx7mpXrX0s0Axwj3juMkIjDj~hn1Nd-o3UnNQi0uWGSjsmO56q7lxCQpw4X3SKLsMeUOd7QQu3cpwuvbr6nS6dqAStiR0jECUJwuTYTE4l5hT4jI4gyuMd4OCPtBQUygAh44L7WXFQUf3~7G58Cj40IazrgFcc2ZSFeI9Xpcu6P489jSoa8ms4LhinEJJIp0HRwDhQ0Y0zjrSnEttQ6AzAtHv9B7dKA93D6iBzuRBNeuz8cL3~tdooPC4GzK8yu9WxljA3PWcp2GpqdTG-wuEiFaxzHqk9Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-05-29T00:00:00Z","article","The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council considered a resolution for first reading to authorize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Kentucky Army ROTC to allow ROTC training in Hysel (Bridal) Park.

The matter drew sustained public comment from residents who said training exercises with rifles — even rubber or simulated ones — are jarring for park users and could distress people with trauma. Anita Courtney, identifying herself as a resident of District 3, said she and her daughters encountered cadets in camouflage during a park visit and that \"I don't feel like the parks are an appropriate place for military exercise\" and urged the council to vote against the agreement. David Cooper, another public commenter, added that while the group uses rubber rifles, \"from a distance, you look you can't tell the difference,\" and said the use of the park for military training is \"wholly incompatible with the peaceful use of the park by other Lexington residents.\" Chuck Eddy, speaking as a Moms Demand Action volunteer, said survivors of gun violence could be triggered by on-site military exercises and repeated that ROTC \"need to find a different facility for their very\" training.

University of Kentucky Army ROTC leadership and city staff responded at the meeting. Lieutenant Colonel Alan Overmyer, who identified himself as residing in District 4 and representing the ROTC program, said the exercises prepare cadets for required evaluations and eventual commissioning and that he was open to \"an amicable solution\" with more communication and controls. He offered program details, stating that \"52% of our program is currently a simultaneous membership cadet\" (referring to cadets also in the National Guard) and stressing the local recruitment and service pipeline.

Director Conrad of Lexington's parks staff told council members the city has allowed ROTC use of park space since 2016, formalized the arrangement in a 2021 MOA and that that agreement ended Jan. 1, 2025. Conrad said staff and ROTC have worked since then to refine proposed terms, including improved communication, on-site presence by staff when trainings occur, and clearer signage at park entrances. Conrad also said the training schedule was moved from afternoons to mornings to reduce conflicts with typical park use and noted on-site signage and website notices would be used.

The council read the resolution (item 37) into the record as a first reading: a proposed MOU with the University of Kentucky Army ROTC to allow the use of Hysel/Bridal Park for ROTC training at no cost to the city. The transcript records substantial public comment and staff explanation and shows the item presented for first reading; the transcript does not record a final council vote on that resolution during this meeting.

Why it matters: Hysel (Bridal) Park is used by walkers, bird watchers, families and others who described it as a \"serene\" public resource; neighbors and gun-violence-prevention advocates told council that visible military-style training exercises in a public park can alarm users and risk retraumatizing survivors. City staff and ROTC said the program supports local cadet training and that better notice and on-site coordination are intended to reduce disruption.

Next steps and council direction: The resolution was placed on the agenda for first reading and discussed at length. Staff committed to clearer, location-specific notice and improved on-site communication with ROTC for scheduled trainings; no final council action on the MOU is recorded in the transcript of this meeting.

Ending details: Public commenters suggested alternative venues (University-owned property or Bluegrass Station) and urged the council to pause or reject the MOU; ROTC and parks staff expressed willingness to modify operations and communications. The council did not take a formal recorded final vote on the MOU during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - Urban County Council - May 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council considered a resolution for first reading to authorize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Kentucky Army ROTC to allow ROTC training in Hysel (Bridal) Park.","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},6531010,"Council approves multiple budget, procurement and project resolutions; ordinances advanced",3503,2101000,5604000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626866-f78de22071ef11cb4752ca17f0e14875&start=2101&end=5604","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626866-f78de22071ef11cb4752ca17f0e14875/thumbnail_2101000.jpg","/articles/6531010/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Council-approves-multiple-budget-procurement-and-project-resolutions-ordinances-advanced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531010-90fd3b9392f46e75040894b0ab9d6e49/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174583&Signature=ezz~YwbuXNb2ZdyU1YCOR5slBKMEEwHcqjfojw0QGLdxU-~z98h-g9u4D4HVGbukquOvPEw5JFaEv3KZV4QLE5ITgtmVYzecltKYllNA-927xVW-IYIgIOapDQTlVe4wL~irFZaTeHjmwA0aN~BnNJZrtdJWCdPCF3ckW0cehy8ZFVM6vA7vQE3ql4IMcaXtS28hPbncMCSq71rcAjWvWY0CyDez9q3prB3W0Yw~w2Ryqq-aSHoGnELD93mnKW6ugHLe0ejufysdE0ph1mPqzt7zX4rY1ZLLvRaYHSFnuab1VztWeE6M4ZtEhPvRUdSMRnnLMuZ6qod49K-LALdHeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council completed a series of procedural votes on ordinances and resolutions during the May 29 meeting. Many items were taken under suspension of the rules and given second reading or otherwise approved by the council. The meeting transcript records multiple roll-call and voice votes; the list below summarizes actions and outcomes as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance (selected items recorded as approved in the transcript):

- Ordinances (second reading / passed): Items 1–3 (FY2025 budget adjustments and related code amendments). The council recorded a roll-call vote and the items passed; several members registered \"no\" votes on item 3 when indicated in the roll call.

- Zoning/Planning: Item 4 (ZOTA) was advanced on first reading \"as amended\" after council-approved amendments to notice and waiver provisions (see separate story). The transcript records the first reading as advanced; a later formal adoption vote was not recorded in this transcript.

- Resolutions and procurements (second reading / passed under rule suspension): Item 26 (Liberty Road conveyance agreement with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet), item 27 (change order no. 3 for new senior and therapeutic center with Calhoun Construction), item 31 (Savannah Guilford stormwater easement acquisitions), item 32 (extension of a purchase-of-service agreement with Techonomy Partners), item 39 (SVI Trucks purchase agreement), item 40 (Seagrave Fire Apparatus purchase), item 41 (council capital project expenditure agreements), item 44 (AE Electrical Solutions generator installation bid), item 45 (Kaye Hayes Ltd fleet overhead doors bid), item 47 (LM Asphalt Partners / Legacy Business Park bid), item 51 (Lexington Pride Center purchase-of-service agreement), item 53 (EHI Consultants comprehensive opportunity assessment), item 61 (Gresham Smith agreement change order for Legacy Business Park phase 2), item 63 (HUD Economic Development CPF award acceptance for Legacy Business Park), item 65 (assignment and assumption for Summit TIF project), item 67 (neighborhood development fund disbursements), and item 68 (drone show procurement for 250th celebration). The transcript shows motions to suspend the rules and give second readings for these items and voice votes recorded as passing.

- Personnel and internal disciplinary items: The council ratified multiple civil-service appointments and approved disciplinary actions reported by the Fire Division (written reprimands, suspension/demotion arising from past investigatory and arbitration outcomes). Those personnel items were presented, seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting.

Why it matters: The approved procurement and project resolutions commit the city to engineering agreements, construction change orders and grant acceptances that will affect capital projects citywide (notably the Legacy Business Park projects and multiple public-infrastructure contracts). Several budget and O&M items adjust FY2025 appropriations and positions in city divisions.

Vote records and notable roll-call detail: The transcript includes roll-call votes for some ordinance reads (for example, items 1–3 were roll‑called with specific yes/no votes; item 3 drew multiple \"no\" votes from council members as recorded). Many second readings were passed by voice vote after motions to suspend the rules; the transcript records the motions, the seconds, and the chair calling the ayes.

Limitations: The meeting transcript records the presence of votes and, in some cases, full roll-call tallies; for multiple procurement and resolution items the transcript records only that the motion to suspend rules and give second reading passed by voice vote. Where a full roll-call tally is not printed in the transcript, vote_record is marked \"not specified\" in the actions below rather than inventing numerical tallies.

Ending note: Several of the capital, procurement and grant items approved in this meeting (notably the Legacy Business Park contracts and the HUD CPF grant acceptance) are time-sensitive and involve the transfer or acceptance of substantial external funds; staff and council discussed scheduling and funding contingencies during the meeting.","The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council approved a series of ordinances, procurement agreements and project resolutions on May 29, 2025, advancing the ZOTA on first reading as amended and passing multiple second-reading actions and contracts identified on the meeting docket.",{"_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},6531015,"Council approves notice and waiver changes as zoning ordinance rewrite moves forward",679,2225000,2904000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626866-f78de22071ef11cb4752ca17f0e14875&start=2225&end=2904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626866-f78de22071ef11cb4752ca17f0e14875/thumbnail_2225000.jpg","/articles/6531015/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Council-approves-notice-and-waiver-changes-as-zoning-ordinance-rewrite-moves-forward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531015-ce1582c9559139c698dd70e35c200377/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174583&Signature=EgJJhaIEbRxRHS4MDCKYEb8yQABdmUik3iibEaqNdntV5r6HOmRDjsXACLLXIzMDgmiXcyF8oFv9U959UirPjOpG4ZZyyjkkVxFvxPuZR--Tx5zw9JxuOb-gMrji0QiE4TyL3443O7rCw4vRAeyrwtLrUFZc~Q8TYLYR~ZSp36F6QQxi1g1~fyCwGiYqOzSgcVHl8HiUlICtarNaj5vCCMoi8PGzi4uSisvhb0foLKMKrxupYqEB2SZXvHlT5UJt9KHbwJUF0gUhKx9LrUz7oi7CCul02Jt5sssn7LQsh1GHwLbH4TUwnPHAYjy7T5mgx9N~nzG1bjcsICZAQtLK0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council debated and approved several amendments that change public-notice rules and waiver procedures in a broad zoning ordinance text amendment (ZOTA) intended to clarify objective development-review standards.

The ZOTA (item 4 on the docket) was read into the record and discussed at length. Public commenter Amy Clark urged restoration of some \"big box\" provisions and objected to broad \"special project\" language she described as \"void by vagueness.\" Clark identified specific zoning articles and asked the council to retain safeguards requiring multiple storefront access points and to limit storage in front yards.

Council member James Brown proposed an amendment to 21‑4(c) under filing, which he read into the record. The amendment requires a completed application to include a current deed, copies of plans and studies, payment of filing fees and a sign posted on the property \"in a conspicuous location for a minimum of 21 days prior to the scheduled technical review committee meeting.\" Brown said the applicant must provide an affidavit that the sign was posted and maintained; the amendment also requires mail notice to property owners and occupants within a 250‑foot radius when a development plan includes a change in land use not part of a prior zone change. Council member Morton seconded the amendment.

Council member LaVern Lynch proposed and moved an addition to Brown's amendment specifying required content for mailed notices: the date of the plan, the address of the subject property, the application record number, and contact information for the Division of Planning. Morton seconded Lynch's motion. The council approved the Brown amendment as amended by voice vote.

Council member Morton then proposed a separate amendment to 21‑9(b) (the waiver notice requirement). The proposed language requires mail notification of waiver requests to occupants and owners within 250 feet of the subject property and to registered neighborhood associations, with addresses obtained from the property valuation administrator and the division of planning; the notice must be given at least 10 calendar days before the meeting at which the waiver is considered. Council member Curtis seconded Morton's amendment; the council approved it.

Director Duncan of the Planning Division told council members that, following adoption of the ZOTA, staff will ask the Planning Commission to initiate a follow-up ZOTA to amend the land subdivision regulations so that subdivision plans receive the same notice applied to development plans. Duncan said staff expects to move that follow-on ZOTA quickly and that, in the interim, staff will apply the new development-plan notice rules to preliminary subdivision plans.

Why it matters: The ZOTA is a comprehensive rewrite intended to clarify objective standards for ministerial review of development plans. The amendments approved on the floor change how neighbors will be notified about development and waiver requests, add content requirements for mailed notices, require on-site posting for development plans, and explicitly include registered neighborhood associations in waiver notices. Those changes affect transparency and how close-by residents and associations learn about projects that could alter neighborhood character.

What the council decided: The council approved Brown's 21‑day on-site posting and 250‑foot mailed-notice standard (21‑4(c)) as amended to require specific content in mailed notices; it also approved Morton's 21‑9(b) waiver-notice amendment requiring mailed notice to owners, occupants and registered neighborhood associations within 250 feet. The transcript records those voice votes and the ordinance was advanced for first reading \"as amended.\" The Planning Division committed to initiate an immediate follow-up ZOTA to align subdivision regulations with these notice changes.

Ending details: Public commenters, including Amy Clark, asked the council to restore certain special-project safeguards and flagged concerns about vague special-provision language. Staff and council members responded by carving notice and procedural changes into the ZOTA and by committing to additional amendments to subdivision rules after adoption of this ZOTA.","Council members amended and approved multiple notice-related provisions in a major zoning ordinance text amendment (ZOTA), directing staff to align subdivision regulations and to apply new notice standards to development and waiver processes. The ordinance was advanced on first reading as amended.","actionData","errors"]

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Public raises concerns as city considers MOU allowing UK Army ROTC training in Hysel Park

Council approves multiple budget, procurement and project resolutions; ordinances advanced

Council approves notice and waiver changes as zoning ordinance rewrite moves forward