Issues

Since taking office in 2007, my top priority each day has been to provide effective, efficient and ethical leadership of Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. I've worked hard to clean up the messes left behind by other elected officials and to create opportunities for LFUCG to become more effective, efficient and ethical. Three years later, we have made enormous advancements in these areas, helping LFUCG operate better than ever before.

-Jim Newberry

MY ADMINISTRATION HAS SAVED YOU MONEY BY...

• Increasing the number of government auditors.

• We've increased the size of the Division of Internal Audit by 75% to allow for more internal audits to ensure that tax dollars are being spent properly.

• Initiating external audits of LFUCG divisions.

• Reducing the property tax associated with garbage collection by 10%.

• Reducing pending major litigation issued during the previous administration.

• Implementing training and development programs for board members to ensure more effective and ethical management of your tax dollars.

• Creating a more competitive purchasing environment.

• We funded a position in the Purchasing Department to focus specifically on hiring more minority businesses as vendors. This increase in business means more competition, which leads to better prices for taxpayers.

• Reducing the size of the city’s vehicle fleet, saving $150,000 each year in operating costs alone.

• Funding the Police and Fire Pension Plan, using the most financially responsible approach possible and keeping the city’s promises to first-responders.

MY ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECTIVE BY...

• Increasing Accessibility.

• We established a new, customer friendly website, including making some government services available online.

• We expanded LexCall hours to make it more convenient for citizens to call.

• We expanded office hours of departments with heavy public usage including LexCall, Code Enforcement and Building Inspection.

• Fostering Relationships.

• We established and have maintained strong working relationships with all members of the state and federal legislative delegation.

• We have conducted quarterly ”Mayor’s Nights Out” and “Mayors Nights In” sessions where citizens can visit with me about their concerns, ideas and suggestions...no appointment necessary. I've met with school children, seniors, church groups, neighborhood associations and public affairs groups to learn more about what is important to citizens.

• We have met regularly with city employees and council members to discuss district specific issues.

MY ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE GOVERNMENT MORE ETHICAL BY...

• We've fought to clean up inappropriate spending at agencies associated with LFUCG. The lack of oversight and management before I took office resulted in a large amount of inappropriate spending at the Bluegrass Airport, Kentucky League of Cities and Lexington Public Library. I acted decisively to put an end to this misuse of taxpayers’ money.

Since I took office, Lexington has created over 2,300 jobs and has the lowest unemployment rate in the Commonwealth—we accomplished this during the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. The development of Lexington’s economy has been a major focus throughout my term as Mayor, and I intend to keep Lexington’s economy on an upward trajectory. We are blessed to have a diverse economy and capitalizing on all that Lexington has to offer will continue to be my top priority.

My administration has created jobs by...

• Creating the Bluegrass Business Development Partnership.

  • Along with the University of Kentucky and Commerce Lexington, we created the BBDP to facilitate economic development initiatives in our community. This international award-winning partnership has created 2,351 jobs right here in Lexington!

• Fighting for Funding.

  • We have maintained close contact with Lexington’s Congressional delegation and have made regular trips to Washington to discuss local needs and seek funding for a wide variety of projects. We have succeeded in bringing home hundreds of millions of dollars of state and federal funds for Lexington.

• Placing High Attention on High Tech.

  • We have collaborated with UK to recruit pharmaceutical companies and other high tech businesses. Lexington’s high tech sector is attracting national attention with Hewlett Packard’s acquisition of Exstream Software, the expansion of ACS, the continuing success of Lexmark, and many more.

• Fought To Keep Lexington’s Money In Lexington.

  • Through tax increment financing on a variety of projects we have been able to keep tax dollars that normally go to Frankfort here in Lexington.

The most important component of a city’s continued economic advancement and overall well-being is education. The future of our children and our community relies upon doing all we can to prepare our students and workforce for the jobs of the 21st century.

My administration has improved education by...

• Supporting and Expanding After School Programs.

  • We supported the creation and expansion of the after-school programs. These programs increase supervision that has proven to lower juvenile drug/alcohol use, criminal behavior, and drop out rates.

• Placing Emphasis on STEM Education.

  • We worked with local postsecondary institutions, including the University of Kentucky and Bluegrass Community and technical College, in support of degree and job training programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) areas. Educating our future workforce in a STEM subject will allow our healthcare and high-tech industries to prosper.

• Fighting For Lexington’s Fair Share of Government Funding.

  • We made full funding of the University of Kentucky Top 20 business plan a top priority of the city’s lobbying initiatives in Frankfort and will continue to do so.

• Establishing the North American Racing Academy.

  • To support the horse industry and to further solidify Lexington’s position as the horse capital of the world, we worked to join BCTC in its efforts to provide training programs at the Kentucky Horse Park through the North American Racing Academy.

Protecting our citizens is the most fundamental purpose of our local government, and one of the reasons I ran for mayor four years ago. For years, problems such as ensuring funding for our Police and Firefighters’ Pension Fund were swept under the rug. We’ve changed that culture in Urban County Government, and made sure that public safety is our number one priority. We've fought to keep staffing levels high.

As a result of our efforts and with the dedication of the men and women who keep us safe, serious crimes such as murder, rape, burglary and robbery are at their lowest rates in the history of merged Government (Over 35 years!). I am dedicated to making sure that our city is the safest and best place to live, work, and raise a family.

-Jim Newberry

MY ADMINISTRATION HAS KEPT LEXINGTON SAFE BY...

• Keeping staffing levels high for both Fire and Police and have funded new recruit classes and equipment.

• Creating the Neighborhood Task Force.

  • The Neighborhood Task Force is made up of representatives from Police, Code Enforcement, Building Inspection, Fire and many others, providING A comprehensive approach to addressing neighborhood safety issues.

• Fighting to obtain $8.4 million in Homeland Security Funding for emergency preparedness.

  • We have implemented a web-based program called WebEOC to enhance communication and information sharing during emergency situations. Through the Emergency Operations Center, we are now able to utilize a comprehensive emergency communications plan and function more effectively as a team.

• Revitalizing the Division of Code Enforcement.

  • All complaints coming in to Code Enforcement are monitored through LexCall, the city’s one-stop call center.

  • We've increased the size of the staff, extended hours and updated computer equipment, resulting in an increase in timeliness and number of inspections conducted.

• Identifying ways to punish non-violent criminals in ways other than incarceration at the Detention Center.

  • We are working with the criminal justice community to explore the use of alternative sentencing programs with judges and the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

When I decided to run for Mayor in 2006, Lexington was starving for change. Years of bitter politics and infighting had made Urban County Government stagnant. Critical problems such as our aging sewer system and under-funded pension program had been repeatedly swept under the rug for future generations to solve. Additionally, our community itself was buckling under the weight of our divisions—north vs. south, black vs. white, rich vs. poor, pro-growth vs. no-growth, etc.

I put a stop to that. I have worked every day to unite our government and our community under a common vision for the future of Lexington. By finding ways to work together, and striving to meet the needs of every citizen in every corner of our city, we’ve made Urban County Government worthy of the people’s trust once again.

MY ADMINISTRATION HAS worked to unite our community by...

• Initiating a broad-based effort to develop a shared vision for Lexington.

  • For the first time in Lexington’s recent history we have developed a long-term vision and sense of direction for our community. Destination 2040 was a visioning process that involved over 3,000 citizens who came together to identify specific goals to build toward a shared vision of the future.

• Ensuring that all city services are uniformly delivered to all citizens, regardless of where they live.

  • Established the “Parks Parity Fund” to ensure that all city parks are well maintained and improved.

• Assembling an administration that reflects the rich diversity of our community.

  • The make-up of my senior team—commissioners and staff—reflect the wealth of diversity found in our community.

  • We greatly improved the process used to find board appointees, putting the application on the internet, involving new people and putting a strong emphasis on diversity.

• Supporting heritage-based celebrations.

  • Celebrations, such as the Roots and Heritage Festival, have continued to flourish during my term as Mayor.

• Promoting minority owned business.

  • One of the few hires in the tight 2010 budget was an outstanding purchasing officer who is focused on increasing contracts for minority businesses.

• Involving the faith-based community and charitable organizations in a wide range of community projects.

  • Included funds for the work of a number of partner organizations in city budgets because of their vital role in our community. Community and charitable organizations that provide the essentials, food, clothing, shelter, have all escaped funding cuts.

• Naming an Aging Services Program Administrator in Lexington’s pursuit to be an outstanding “retirement community”.

In this special place we call the Bluegrass, we have a very heavy responsibility to care deeply about our environment, leaving this beautiful region in better condition than we found it. For decades, Urban County Government ignored this responsibility, even polluting our streams to the point where the city was sued by the Environmental Protection Agency. When I took office, I changed that attitude in government, with a new philosophy that can be summed up in five words: No more, and never again.

I am absolutely dedicated to ensure that Urban County Government never goes back to the old way we treated our environment. We’ve made sure that Lexington is a better steward, and will continue these efforts to make our city cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable for many years to come.

MY ADMINISTRATION HAS PROTECTED THE ENVIRONMENT BY...

• Establishing the city’s first Department of Environmental Quality.

  • This department works cooperatively with the private sector and with Climate Action Team, Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community, University of Kentucky and Fayette County Public Schools on environmental issues.

• Fixing the massive sewer problem other elected officials had ignored for decades.

  • For decades, the city was polluting its own streams with raw sewage and dirty stormwater run-off. Since I took office, the city has begun a massive, much-needed sanitary and storm sewer improvement program, repairing and replacing sewer lines, aggressively monitoring conditions and enforcing environmental laws for the first time in Lexington’s history.

• Helping achieve the Bluegrass protection milestone of preserving over 20,000 acres through the Purchase of Development Rights program.

  • Despite the tight city hall budgets triggered by tough economic conditions, we have continued to fund the PDR program.

• Constructing more recreational trails for walking and biking than any other mayor in the city’s history.

  • By the close of this year, Lexington will be home to one of the most appealing arrays of off-road trails in the country.

• Establishing an infill and redevelopment fund.

• Greatly expanding recycling—saving the city, local businesses, and schools thousands of dollars a month.

  • My administration has worked with local businesses, the University of Kentucky, Fayette County Public Schools and Bluegrass Pride to identify ways to decrease waste disposal and increase recycling efforts and education.

  • There are new recycling containers in many city parks and 120 new waste/recycling containers downtown.

In order to attract the best and the brightest young people, families, and businesses to our community, I know that the first step is to make Lexington the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family. In a number of areas, my administration has worked and will continue to work on issues that will better the experience of living in Lexington.

Whether it is working to fix our traffic problems; revitalizing our downtown commerce; making sure that our sidewalks, parks, and public rights-of way are beautiful and accessible for all our citizens; or in making sure our city and economy continue to grow the RIGHT way—I am more dedicated than ever to keep improving the quality of all Lexingtonians’ lives.

MY ADMINISTRATION has Improved LEXINGTON'S QUALITY OF LIFE BY...

• Working to ease traffic congestion by fighting for funding for projects such as the long-awaited Newtown Pike extension.

• Supporting the creation of the Colt Trolley system.

  • We've pushed to bring trolleys back to Lexington, providing a free, accessible, environmentally friendly way for citizens to move around downtown and our campus community.

• Increasing bike lanes, recreational trails and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks.

  • My administration has put a strong emphasis on bike lanes and trails and we have added more of them than any other administration in Lexington’s history. We are also installing ADA-compliant, pedestrian friendly sidewalks on several downtown street, improving streetscapes on South Limestone, Main and Vine Street.

• Creating Office of Neighborhoods to support neighborhood and homeowners' associations.

  • We've created a Neighborhood Office in the Mayor’s Office that coordinates neighborhood involvement in city activities, frequently meeting with neighborhood groups and discussing proposed developments that have an impact on existing neighborhoods.

  • The Neighborhood Office also provides neighborhoods with information about funds available for neighborhood improvements.

  • We also created a Neighborhood Task Force to provide a comprehensive approach to addressing neighborhood issues. This task force is made up of police, Code Enforcement, Building Inspection, fire and many others.

• Supporting Lexington arts and cultural activities through an unprecedented level of funding.

• Creating Spotlight Lexington

  • This event will put local artists center stage during the Alltech-FEI World Equestrian Games showcasing Kentucky talent to the world. Lexington’s businesses and farmers will also be represented, giving Lexington a rare opportunity to show off all the things that make us unique.

• Renovating the Lyric Theatre.

• Helping to form the Cheapside Park arts and cultural district.

  • Cheapside has been redeveloped, with a pavilion that will serve as a new home to the Farmers Market, concerts, art shows and many other events.

Striking a balance between land preservation, historic preservation and growth is essential to maintaining what makes Lexington so unique. The discussion of land use is part of virtually every serious discussion of public affairs in Lexington. During the 2006 campaign I said NO to an expansion of the Urban Service Boundary, the area of the county where growth is allowed. We have taken a variety of steps to encourage dense development in the urban core. I will continue promote infill and redevelopment in my next term.

MY ADMINISTRATION HAS GROWN LEXINGTON RESPONSIBLY BY...

• Appointing the right people to commissions

  • We've appointed people to the Planning Commission and other entities charged with smart growth who understand the balance between growing our economy and preserving our rich rural surroundings.

• Promoting regional planning through the Bluegrass Area Development District and Bluegrass Tomorrow

• Fighting to obtain funding for Lexington’s infrastructure needs.

• Aggressively supporting the PDR program, to save our farm land and encourage smart growth practices.

• Supporting the development of our downtown and projects in our Urban Core.