Since taking office, Mayor Jim Newberry has, among other initiatives:
- Made protection of the environment his top priority by creating the city’s first Department of Environmental Quality, increasing recycling, addressing sewer problems that have long polluted local streams and requiring government to cut electricity usage, among many other initiatives.
- Improved the working relationship between the Council and Administration and developed common goals that set a new course for government.
- Reorganized government and conducted an extensive management audit of government operations, identifying over 400 ways to help government operate faster, better and cheaper.
- Worked with Commerce Lexington and the University of Kentucky to form the Bluegrass Business Partnership to strengthen and significantly increase funding for the city's economic development efforts.
- Ensured that the city is improving procurement opportunities for minority-owned businesses.
- Reduced the size of the city work force by just over 200 full-time employees, generating an annual cost savings of approximately $12 million.
- Planned major improvements downtown, including a pavilion in Cheapside Park that will be home to the Farmer’s Market, curb-side rain gardens on major downtown streets, wider sidewalks and a promenade on Vine Street with raised pools of water tracing the path of historic Town Branch.
- Unshackled code enforcement to enforce standards.
- Planned a downtown festival, Spotlight Lexington, to coincide with the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
- Launched a community clean-up campaign, clearing illegal signs from the right-of-way and using inmates to pick up litter.
- Opened the doors of the Mayor’s Office to all citizens, scheduling regular sessions where people are invited to express ideas or concerns directly to the Mayor.
- Expanded the Summer Youth Employment Program.
- Focused on neighborhood concerns and held annual Neighborhood Summits.
- Corrected problems with city computer systems to allow for accurate, reliable budgeting.
- Increased funding for the arts, including the creation of the Mayor's Challenge Grant to encourage new and expanded donors to the arts and turned the Mayor's Office into a gallery for local artists through participation in Gallery Hop.
- Launched a "Parks Parity" program to bring substandard parks up to a higher quality for all citizens.
- Worked toward the goal of making Lexington the most bicycle friendly city in Kentucky by developing new bicycle trails and lanes, holding a Bike Summit and creating the first Mayor's Bicycle Task Force to involve citizens in helping us achieve our bicycling goals.
- Visited elected officials in surrounding communities to underscore the importance of regionalism.