What does a city council or city commission do in Kentucky?
A city council or city commission serves as the legislative and policy-making body for an incorporated municipality. These bodies pass local ordinances (city laws), vote on and adopt city municipal budgets, set local utility and property tax rates, and establish municipal zoning, development, and building codes.
City legislative bodies directly manage local public services that shape daily community living, including police and fire departments, city parks, trash collection, local street maintenance, and water/sewer infrastructure. They manage services we don’t think about until they are not working the way we want them to.
Structure and Terms
Kentucky cities operate primarily under two governance structures, governed by elected officials serving two- or four-year terms:
- Mayor-Council System: Separates executive and legislative authority. The mayor serves as chief executive, elected to manage city departments, while an elected city council acts independently as the legislative branch.
- City Commission System: Blends executive and legislative roles. An elected mayor and commissioners work together on a single board that collectively passes laws and oversees municipal departments.
In Louisville and Lexington, the merged city-county governments operate under unified councils. In Louisville, the Metro Council is a 26-member body elected from local districts. Similarly, in Lexington, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council (with the worst acronym) operates a similar structure but with 15 members. These bodies work alongside a single mayor handling both municipal and county-level legislative responsibilities.
How Do We Talk to Them
Because municipal decisions directly impact immediate neighborhood conditions, city councils and commissions are often the most accessible level of local government. Citizens can attend council meetings, speak during public comment periods about neighborhood safety, local business zoning permits, street repair needs, park funding, or proposed city ordinances. Many governments have online access, and some even have an app, making direct contact fairly simple.
Considering the needs of a city, the city council/commission should be the first step in outreach.
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