Legislative process | City of Lexington, Kentucky
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The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council follows a multi-step legislative process to enact ordinances and resolutions. Items begin in one of four committees (Budget, Finance and Economic Development; Environmental Quality and Public Works; General Government and Planning; or Social Services and Public Safety), where they are researched, discussed, and voted on by committee members before being reported to the full council at a work session. After passing a work session vote, items proceed to first and second readings at council meetings, with public comment opportunities available throughout the process. Resolutions address temporary or diplomatic matters, while ordinances establish permanent rules and must be codified in the Code of Ordinances.
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Home Government Office of The Urban County Council Council Committees The step-by-step process of how a bill becomes a law in Fayette County. SHARE: COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND WORK SESSIONS Legislative process The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council includes the vice mayor, two at-large council members, and 12 councilmembers representing a specific district. The council writes, revises, votes, and adopts legislation for Fayette County, which takes the form of a resolution or an ordinance. According to Urban County Council rules and procedures, a resolution is diplomatic or temporary in character, whereas an ordinance prescribes a permanent rule of conduct for government. All Urban County Government legislation takes the form of a resolution unless the legislation is to be codified in the Code of Ordinances, appropriates funds, or is specifically required by law to be an ordinance. 1 An item enters committee Often, an ordinance or resolution starts by being added to a committee. Committee items can be referred by councilmembers, committee chairs or the vice mayor. There are four committees: Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee General Government and Planning Committee Social Services and Public Safety Committee 2 Committee presentation While in committee, items are researched by councilmembers and relevant stakeholders. Items can be in committee for months or even years. Once it is ready, the item is presented to the committee for consideration. Councilmembers then have the opportunity to discuss or amend the item. Any council member can attend any meeting, but only the committee members can vote on the item. Based on the vote, the item can pass or fail. 3 Report out Items that are passed by the committee are then reported out to the full council at a work session. Usually, this happens after the following committee meeting, which is typically about a month later. Committees can also vote to report out an item sooner. 4 Work session When it is reported out during a work session, councilmembers have the chance to discuss or amend the item. Then, councilmembers vote on it. Based on the vote, the item can pass or fail. If an item passes at work session, it will be placed on the agenda for an upcoming council meeting. Public comment can be given at the beginning of work session for items on the agenda, or at the end for items not on the agenda. 5 First reading If the item is passed at a Tuesday work session, the item will usually be placed on the docket for the next Thursday council meeting, which can be a week or more away. Per the city charter, ordinances and resolutions must receive two readings. At the first reading, council does not vote on the item. Council can vote to suspend the rules to give an item a second reading immediately. If the rules are not suspended, the item will receive second reading at the next scheduled council meeting. Public comment can be given at the beginning of the council meeting for items on the agenda, or at the end for items not on the agenda. 6 Second reading After the second reading of the ordinance or resolution, council will vote, and the item will either pass or fail. Until the final vote, an item can still be amended, though it may need to receive another first and second reading if the changes are significant. Once adopted, an item goes into effect immediately unless otherwise stated. If an item fails, a councilmember can choose to put it back into a committee for additional work. Public comment can be given at the beginning of the council meeting for items on the agenda or at the end for items not on the agenda. Watch a meeting All meetings are livestreamed and archived by LexTV Current and past dockets and legislation Legistar tracks all city legislation back to 2012. LEX FIND Look up your district, representatives, and city services. YOUR ADDRESS: Contact Office of Urban County Council 200 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 councilmembers-email@lexingtonky.gov
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This document outlines the City of Lexington, Kentucky's open records request procedures and requirements. To submit a request, individuals must be Kentucky residents and include a statement verifying their residency status. The city accepts requests for various record types including general city records, police and fire department documents, community corrections files, and animal control records, with submissions directed to the Council Clerk's office at 200 E. Main St. during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., or by phone at (859) 258-3240).
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