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An Ordinance proposing an Amendment to Section 14.04 of the Charter of the Urban County Government to provide that Council shall convene a Charter Review Assembly at least once every eight (8) years, comprised of not fewer than twenty-four (24) representatives, to conduct a comprehensive review of the Charter, that Council shall establish, by Ordinance, selection procedures using a representative lottery and minimum procedures for the assembly to conduct its review and publish its recommendations, including opportunities for public engagement, and that Council shall establish, by Ordinance, a standing Charter Review Board to serve as a permanent advisory body for purposes of identifying and advising the Council on appropriate Charter Amendments between eight (8) year review cycles and facilitating the work of the Charter Review Assembly; making the amendment effective for the term of office beginning on January 4, 2027; and placing the proposed amendment on the ballot at the general election to be held on November 3, 2026. [Council Office, Hall]
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT:
Section 1 - It is proposed that Section 14.04 of the Charter of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government be amended to read as follows effective for the term of office beginning on January 4, 2027:
The Council shall be authorized to establish by Ordinance a Charter Revision Commission to hold hearings and to make recommendations to the Council with respect to amendments to this Charter. Said Commission shall consist of not fewer than twenty (20) citizens.
Without limiting the amendment and revision procedures available under this Article, and commencing in 2027, the Council shall convene a Charter Review Assembly at least once every eight (8) years to conduct a comprehensive review of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter. The Charter Review Assembly shall be comprised of not fewer than twenty-four (24) representatives and shall be established pursuant to an Ordinance adopted by Council which shall, at minimum, establish selection procedures using a representative lottery and shall further establish procedures for the assembly to conduct its review and publish its recommendations, which shall include opportunities for public engagement.
The Council shall further establish, by Ordinance, a standing Charter Review Board to serve as a permanent advisory body to identify appropriate Charter amendments between eight-year review cycles, to facilitate the review conducted by the Charter Review Assembly as set forth herein, and to advise the Urban County Council not less than annually on appropriate Charter amendments.
Section 2 - That the Clerk of the Urban County Council be and hereby is directed to forward a certified copy of this Ordinance to the Fayette County Clerk for placement on the ballot at the next general election on November 3, 2026.
Section 3 - That this Ordinance shall become effective upon the date of its passage.
PASSED URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL:
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MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CLERK OF URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL
PUBLISHED:
0489-26:MSC:4916-1541-3681, v. 1