# Council Work Session - January 21, 2014 > Auto-transcribed civic record · January 21, 2014 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/3215 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/3215?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2014-01-21 - **Last revised**: July 15, 2026 - **Length**: 2,201 words > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** Audio from the official Granicus video was auto-transcribed with OpenAI's open-source Whisper large-v3-turbo model, run locally by The Lexington Times. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude. Verbatim wording may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Meeting Overview The Urban County Council met on January 21, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center located at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507. Mayor Gray presided over the meeting, which included 10 agenda items and resulted in 18 motions and votes. The council heard 4 public comments during the meeting, including remarks on both agenda and non-agenda items. The council approved several items of business, including requested rezonings and docket approval, a summary, budget amendments, new business, continuing business and presentations, and council reports. The Mayor's Report was presented for informational purposes, and the meeting concluded with adjournment. ## Attendance **Present:** Gorton, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Beard, Farmer, Stinnett, Scutchfield, Myers, Mossotti, Clarke, Henson, and Akers **Absent:** Lane and Lawless **Late:** None ## Votes and Decisions **Rezoning Docket** [timestamp: 00:01:00] Motion by Ellinger, seconded by Gorton, to approve the docket of requested rezonings passed unanimously. **Ordinance 0006-14 – Docket Placement** [timestamp: 00:01:33] Motion by Clarke, seconded by Ford, to move Ordinance 6 to the docket with a public hearing passed by roll call vote, 12-1. Voting in favor: Gorton, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Beard, Farmer, Stinnett, Scutchfield, Myers, Mossotti, Clarke, and Henson. Voting against: Akers. **Ordinance 0006-14 – Public Hearing Scheduled** [timestamp: 00:01:33] Motion by Beard, seconded by Ellinger, to schedule a public hearing on February 11, 2014, at 5:00 PM for Ordinance 6 passed by roll call vote, 12-1. Voting in favor: Gorton, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Beard, Farmer, Stinnett, Scutchfield, Myers, Mossotti, Clarke, and Henson. Voting against: Akers. **Ordinance 0004-14** [timestamp: 00:01:33] Motion by Beard, seconded by Farmer, to move Ordinance 4 to the docket without a public hearing passed unanimously. **Ordinance 0005-14** [timestamp: 00:01:33] Motion by Clarke, seconded by Gorton, to move Ordinance 5 to the docket without a public hearing passed unanimously. **Summary Approval** [timestamp: 00:02:06] Motion by Beard, seconded by Myers, to approve the summary passed unanimously. **Budget Amendments** [timestamp: 00:02:37] Motion by Gorton, seconded by Clarke, to approve budget amendments passed unanimously. **New Business** [timestamp: 00:02:37] Motion by Farmer, seconded by Kay, to approve new business passed unanimously. **JOBS Fund Referral** [timestamp: 00:02:37] Motion by Mossotti, seconded by Scutchfield, to place the JOBS fund into the Economic Development Committee for review passed by roll call vote, 9-4. Voting in favor: Gorton, Ellinger, Ford, Beard, Stinnett, Scutchfield, Myers, Mossotti, and Henson. Voting against: Kay, Akers, Farmer, and Clarke. **Neighborhood Development Funds** [timestamp: 00:03:10] Motion by Ellinger, seconded by Myers, to approve Neighborhood Development Funds passed unanimously. **Leaf Collection Referral** [timestamp: 00:03:10] Motion by Stinnett, seconded by Farmer, to refer leaf collection to the Planning & Public Works Committee passed unanimously. **Economic Development Outside Agencies Referral** [timestamp: 00:03:10] Motion by Scutchfield, seconded by Henson, to refer the Economic Development outside agencies issue to the Budget & Finance Committee passed unanimously. **Mayor's Report** [timestamp: 00:03:10] Motion by Stinnett, seconded by Mossotti, to approve the Mayor's report passed unanimously. **Canopy Survey Report Referral** [timestamp: 00:08:04] Motion by Clark, seconded by Ellinger, to refer the canopy survey report to the Environmental Policy Committee, to be reported on February 18, 2014, passed unanimously. **Design Excellence Text Amendments** [timestamp: 00:05:24] Motion by Farmer, seconded by Akers, to move Design Excellence text amendments to full Council for submission to the Planning Commission passed unanimously. **Closed Session** [timestamp: 00:13:54] Motion by Gorton, seconded by Henson, to enter closed session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(c) and (f) for discussion of pending litigation and potential employee appointment passed unanimously. **Return from Closed Session** [timestamp: 00:22:15] Motion by Kay, seconded by Mossotti, to return from closed session passed unanimously. **Adjournment** [timestamp: 00:22:15] Motion by Kay, seconded by Stinnett, to adjourn passed unanimously. ## Budget and Financial Actions The meeting on January 21, 2014 included authorization for the following financial actions: **Lease Agreement with Bluegrass Community and Technical College** The body authorized execution of a lease agreement (L1328-13) with Bluegrass Community and Technical College for space within the Central Kentucky Job Center at a cost of $2,553.36. **Amendment to Benefit Insurance Marketing Agreement** Authorization was granted to execute an amendment (L0015-14) to the existing agreement with Benefit Insurance Marketing to continue services for an additional year and extend the scope of consulting services. No specific amount was specified for this amendment. **Donation of Cribs to HANDS Program** The body authorized acceptance of a donation (L0019-14) of 10 Graco Pack N Play cribs valued at $700 from Safe Kids Fayette County. The cribs will be provided to the HANDS Program within the Division of Family Services. **Administrative Position Extension in Waste Management** Authorization was granted to amend Section 22-5 of the Code of Ordinances (L0026-14) to extend one temporary position of Administrative Specialist (Grade 110N) for four years within the Division of Waste Management. This position is fully funded for fiscal year 2014. ## Public Comment Several council members addressed the public on matters of local concern during the meeting. **Weather and Employee Safety** [timestamp: 00:08:35] Council Member Farmer reminded the public about extreme cold and windchill conditions affecting the area. He praised the streets and roads team for their efforts in response to the weather. Farmer also noted that non-essential employees were permitted to use weather-related leave to go home without penalty. **University of Kentucky Athletic Achievements** [timestamp: 00:11:12] Council Member Scutchfield congratulated the University of Kentucky cheerleaders on winning their 20th national championship. He also recognized the dance team for placing fifth in hip-hop competition and acknowledged the Moorhead cheerleaders for earning a national title. **Child Care Subsidy Funding** [timestamp: 00:11:46] Council Member Myers reported on a rally held in Frankfort to advocate for restoration of partial child care subsidy funding. Myers thanked the law department and Commissioner Mills for their work on the matter and indicated that funding restoration appeared likely. **Community Engagement Initiative** [timestamp: 00:12:50] Council Member Akers announced a new monthly community engagement initiative. The program will host rotating social gatherings including coffee, happy hour, lunch, or dinner events. Akers scheduled the first event for Thursday at 10 a.m. at Meadowthorpe Cafe. ## Contested Items **JOBS Fund Referral to Economic Development Committee** The council voted on a motion to refer the JOBS fund to the Economic Development Committee. The vote resulted in a 9-4 split, reflecting significant disagreement among council members about the referral. Council members Kay, Akers, Farmer, and Clarke voted against the motion to refer the JOBS fund. Their opposition indicated a notable division on the council regarding whether the matter should be directed to the Economic Development Committee at that time. The motion ultimately passed with the majority support of nine council members, moving the JOBS fund forward for consideration by the Economic Development Committee despite the substantial minority opposition. ## Public Comment – Issues on Agenda [timestamp: 00:00] No public comments were submitted for issues on the agenda. The meeting proceeded directly to the next agenda item. ## Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval [timestamp: 00:01:00] The council addressed requested rezonings and docket approval during this agenda item. Key speakers included Ellinger, Clarke, Beard, and Ford. The council approved the docket of requested rezonings and took action on several ordinances. Multiple ordinances were moved to the docket, with some proceeding with public hearings and others without. A public hearing was scheduled for Ordinance 6, to be held on February 11, 2014. The agenda item concluded with approval of the requested rezonings and docket. ## Approval of Summary Council Member Ellinger presented the summary of the meeting for approval [timestamp: 00:02:06]. The council unanimously approved the summary as presented. **Outcome:** Approved ## Budget Amendments No budget amendments were presented during this agenda item. Despite the absence of proposed amendments, a motion to approve them passed unanimously [timestamp: 00:02:37]. Key speakers on this matter included Gorton and Clarke. ## New Business [timestamp: 00:02:37] The council addressed new business items during this portion of the meeting. Key speakers included Farmer, Kay, Mossotti, and Scutchfield. The primary action taken was the referral of the JOBS fund to the Economic Development Committee for review. This referral was put to a vote and passed with a vote of 9-4. The new business item was approved by the council. ## Continuing Business/Presentations During this agenda item, the council addressed several matters of continuing business and received committee reports. [timestamp: 00:03:10] **Neighborhood Development Funds** The council approved Neighborhood Development Funds as part of the continuing business. **Committee Reports** The council received reports from two committees: - Budget & Finance Committee - Planning & Public Works Committee **Design Excellence Task Force** Amendments related to the Design Excellence Task Force were moved to the full Council for consideration. **Key Speakers** The discussion was led by council members Ellinger, Farmer, and Kay. **Outcome** The agenda item concluded with approval of the Neighborhood Development Funds, and the Design Excellence Task Force amendments were advanced to the full Council for further action. ## Council Reports Council Members Clark, Farmer, Scutchfield, Myers, and Akers provided updates on various topics during this agenda item. [timestamp: 00:08:04] The reports covered three main areas: - **Canopy Study Report**: Council members discussed findings from a canopy study. This matter was referred to the Environmental Policy Committee for further consideration. - **Employee Weather Leave Policy**: An update was provided regarding the employee weather leave policy. - **Community Events**: Council members reported on upcoming or ongoing community events. The Council Reports item was approved. ## Mayor's Report No Mayor's Report was presented during this agenda item [timestamp: 00:03:10]. Additionally, no motion to approve the Mayor's Report was made. ## Public Comment – Issues Not on Agenda [timestamp: 00:13:54] No public comments were submitted for issues not on the agenda. The meeting proceeded without public input on matters outside the scheduled agenda items. ## Adjournment The meeting was adjourned following a motion by Council Member Kay, seconded by Council Member Stinnett. [timestamp: 00:22:15] The motion to adjourn was approved. --- ## Decisions - **Motion** — passed (0-0): approve the January 14, 2014 work session summary - **Motion** — passed (0-0): approve new business - **Motion** — passed (0-0): approve neighborhood development funds - **Motion** — passed (0-0): move the Design Excellence Task Force text amendment to the full Council to be initiated and submitted to the Planning Commission - **Motion** — passed (0-0): move the canopy survey report to the environmental quality committee to be reported on February 18, 2014 - **Motion** — passed (0-0): enter closed session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(f) for a discussion that may lead to the appointment of an employee - **Motion** — passed (0-0): return from closed session - **Motion** — passed (0-0): adjourn --- ## Full transcript Music Thank you. Greetings, everyone. Hello, hello, hello. Hello. And let me get this. All right, welcome, everyone. I will call the meeting to order, meeting of the work session. And first on our agenda is public comments. Mr. Mundy, has anybody signed on? Nobody has signed on for public comments for issues on the agenda, which allows us to move on to rezonings and docket approval. Is there a motion? Approval. Motion by Council Member Farmer and a second by Council Member Akers. Is there any, wait a minute. We don't have one. We don't have a docket. Okay. We actually don't need a motion. Move to approve the summary by Council Member Ellinger is a second by Council Member Myers. Is there any discussion on the motion? Any discussion on the motion to approve summary? All right. Hearing none, we can take a vote. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. Next on our agenda is budget amendments. There are no budget amendments today, which allows us to move on to move business. Motion by Council Member Ellinger to approve new business. Second by Council Member Farmer. Is there any discussion on the motion? Any discussion on the motion? All right. Then we can take a vote. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. Next on our agenda is continuing business. Move to approve NDF. Motion by Council Member Ellinger to approve NDF. Second by Council Member Kaye. Is there any discussion? All right. Hearing none, then we can take a vote. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. Next on the agenda is a summary report of the Budget and Finance Committee, December 2013, by Council Member Ellinger. Council Member Ellinger. Thank you, Mayor. The Special Budget and Finance Committee met on December 10th. We had three items. The first one we approved, the November 19, 2013, Committee Summary. The second one was the Comprehensive Annual Finance Report, the 2013 CAFRA. Commissioner O'Meara commented on the CAFER. We were issued a clean opinion on October 15, 2013. The single audit A-133 should be completed by the December 31st, and we hope to have the auditor, which we plan on having the auditor here at the January meeting. Commissioner O'Meara provided the fund balance dollars in the urban fund, which was $28.6 million. The Sanitary Sewer Farm Fund had $60.7 million, which had, in capital reserves, $42.4 million. The Debt Service Reserve had $8.8 million. The Capital Replace and Maintenance Reserve had $9.5 million. The Landfill Fund had $14.5 million. The Water Quality Fund had $10.1 million. And in that, the Water Quality Incentive Program Reserve was $4 million. The Unrestricted Fund Balance was $6.1 million. The General Fund Non-Spendable was $1.4 million. Restricted was an energy improvement was $0.4 million committed, $29.9 million. The economic contingency was $23.3 million. Twenty-seven payroll was $5.5 million, and other funds was $1.1 million. The assigned was $18.4 million, which had litigation of $5.5 million, health insurance of $2.0 million, and pension of $2.8 million, and projects $8.1 million. And unassigned was $14.3 million. We talked then about the pension and health insurance reserve, and our third item was items referred to the committee. We removed two items, and we adjourned. And that's the end of my report. Mayor, thank you. Thank you, Council Member Elieger. Next on our agenda is a Planning and Public Works Committee summary from the January meeting, January 2014 meeting. Council Member Farmer. Council Member Farmer. Thank you, Mayor. At our meeting on the 14th, We took up first the issue of our previous, our November 12th summary, which was approved. Next, we took up an issue that had been in committee to potentially merge streets and roads and traffic engineering. We disposed of that by removing it from committee. Then we had a very fruitful update from Council Member Kay about the design excellence task force work. There's a couple of really good comment points here. Council Member Kaye stated that the Lexington Downtown Authority will conduct an economic analysis of residential and retail markets and develop an economic incentive program proposal in early spring. He also stated that the Parking Authority is going to develop a 10-year capital improvement plan for new garages and other parking facilities. Included in the packet that day was a really great kind of a three-part memo showing the working parts of everything to do with the Design Excellence Task Force and its work. pursuant to the committee looking at that and understanding that their detail is yet to be worked out and that the incentives part is yet to be worked out. We did take up a motion from the council member, seconded by the vice mayor, that the Design Excellence Task Force text amendments were to be moved to the full council to be initiated and submitted to the Planning Commission. This was passed unanimously by the committee, and I so move on their behalf at this time. A motion by Council Member Farmer. Is there a second? Second. Second by Council Member Akers. Is there any discussion on the motion? Okay. Hearing none, then we can take a vote. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. As those come forward into our packet, I think we'll look at them individually, but just today that was just the motion to get it all started. Next, we took up the development fee structure, which was a fine conversation. that resulted in no motions. Lastly, we voted to remove several items from the committee. Utility polls in the right-of-way was removed. We had several presentations during committee about the repaving program. We removed it. We removed the issue of working with Fayette County Schools to sustain road salt services, something that might be really topical for today. We removed the alternative fuels part, as we have kind of worked really well on that. and the issue of performance bonds. After that, we had through all of our committee work, and we adjourned at 155. That completes my report. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council Member Farmer. All right. That allows us to go to Council Reports. The floor is available for Council Reports. If you'll please log in. Council Member Clark. Thank you, Mayor. the Environmental Quality Division is ready to report to the Council on the canopy study, and so I'd like to move to refer the canopy survey report to the Environmental Policy Committee. That will enable it to be reported on February the 18th. So move. Motion by Council Member Clark and second by Council Member Ellinger. Is there any discussion on the motion? Hearing none, we can take a vote. All in favor, please say aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. Council Member Clark, that's it? All right, sir, thank you. Council Member Farmer. Just wanted to remind the public about how cold it is today and how cold it's going to be tonight, the windchill factor and the problems. I know our streets and roads folks are doing the best job that they can under some very tough conditions. Was there somebody? Yes, sir. which actually is a nice segue, if I may. Yes, sir. If you allow me to ask Chief Administrative Officer Hamilton to please give us a report on the employee condition and the snow conditions and employees. Thank you. I think several of you had mentioned and were very concerned, and also the mayor was concerned about our employees. so I appreciate the council and the mayor. We are in the process right now of sending out an email to our employees telling them they are free, those that are non-essential to go on home, and they will use weather-related leave for this particular time because I think you all expressed, as the mayor did, is we don't want to put anybody in jeopardy. So thank you. Thank you, Sally. Thank you, Mayor. That was timely. And I appreciate it. And then I would compliment you on what I still call the state of the emergency government for the state of the city address today. I thought you delivered effectively and covered multiple topics. And I don't know, there's things you mentioned I would like to catch up about, but I'll go back and read through the information specifically, and we'll maybe have conversations about it later. Happily, happily, happily, happily, happily, happily. Thank you, Mayor. That completes my report. Yes, sir. Council Member Ellinger, I think, Sally, Council Member Ellinger has a question. Could you explain to me the process with the employees that they do leave, how they put it on their time card then? Because we don't penalize them for leaving. We have a space there for inclement weather, don't we? That's exactly right, Council Member Ellinger. I did not know how this works, so that's how I had to go down. They are filling that in for weather-related and clement weather, and they do not lose that. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Council Member Scutchfield. Thank you, Mayor. And again, I'm going to repeat what Council Member Farmer said. Thank you for your address today. Just a little thing. I wanted to congratulate the University of Kentucky cheerleaders who brought home their 20th national championship. Very proud of them. The U.K. dance team placed fifth in the hip-hop division, and Moorhead cheerleaders also won their national championship. So very proud of them. Yes, this was U.K.'s 20th national championship. That's great. That's great. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Scotchfield. Council Member Myers. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to give an update. Last Thursday, I went to the Children's Youth Advocacy Day rally in the capital of Latenda in Frankfurt, and we had a rally regarding several issues around children and youth. But I just want to thank the council and the mayor for passing the resolution that we passed, asking the legislature to at least restore partial funding to the child care subsidy that they cut. But we're hearing that there's a likely chance that some of that might be restored. And so I want to thank also the law department for doing great work on the resolution and getting it done very quickly. My counsel aide, Elizabeth Chatterton, and also Commissioner Mills for connecting with the appropriate people in Frankfurt. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Myers. Back to Council Member Scotchfield. And I apologize. Thank you, Mayor. I forgot one other thing. On Thursday at 7 o'clock at Wellington Elementary School, there is a rally for Fayette County for Our Kids Can't Wait regarding funding. Invite everyone to come out and show your support to ask the state to not cut funding for our public schools. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Scutchfield. Council Member Akers. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to put a plug in for my new endeavor for 2014, hosting coffees or happy hour or lunch or dinner throughout the year each month. And the first one is going to be this Thursday morning at 10 o'clock at the Meadowthorpe Cafe. And so we'll meet for an hour and just people can bring questions about the district or we can just have a cup of coffee. So I'd like to invite anyone who'd like to join me. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Akers, Council Member Myers. Thank you, Mayor. I also want to thank Judy Taylor, who works for our city, and one of our lobbyists who did a lot of work with that as well in Frankfort. Thank you. Yes, sir. Judy does great work. Thank you so much, George. All right. That's all the council members who have logged on for council reports. It allows us to move to there's no mayor's report today. That allows us to move to public comment. For issues not on the agenda, Mr. Monty says no one has signed on. And that allows us to move to a motion by Council Member Ellinger. Thank you, Mayor. I move that we go into closed session pursuant to KRS 61.8101F for a discussion that may lead to the appointment of an employee. So moved. Motion by Council Member Ellinger to enter closed session. Who is the second by? Council, second by Council Member Farmer, if there's no objection, the council will now enter folks. Oh, they probably, I mean, they don't have any reason to stay. The council is going to, you all are going to go out into the back room. All right. The motion carries. Council is now entering closed session. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. guitar solo guitar solo guitar solo Thank you. ¶¶ Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We'll be right back. Thank you. Thank you. Do I have a motion to come out of closed session? I have a motion by Council Member Beard and a second by Council Member Farmer. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those in favor say aye. All those in favor say aye. Thank you.