# Urban County Council Work Session - April 7, 2015 > Auto-transcribed civic record · April 7, 2015 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/3622 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/3622?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2015-04-07 - **Last revised**: July 15, 2026 - **Length**: 4,128 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 Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on April 7, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Gray presiding. The council addressed 10 agenda items during the session, including public comment periods, rezoning requests, budget matters, and various reports. The body took 31 votes and heard 3 public comments from members of the public. Key actions included approval of a summary, budget amendments, and new business items, while other portions of the meeting were devoted to informational presentations and reports from council members and the mayor. ## Attendance The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 7, 2015: Akers, Atkins, Bledsoe, Brown, Evans, Farmer, Ford, Gibbs, Hamilton, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Lane, Maloney, Massadi, Moloney, Mossotti, Paulsen, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Thurman, Holmes, Gooding, Reed, Slatin, Pflueger, David Holmes, Wes Holbrook, Irene Gooding, Commissioner Paulson, Keith Lovin, Brad Frazier, Jennifer Arena, Annette Jett, Sally Hamilton, and Dallas Squires. No absences or late arrivals were recorded. ## Votes and Decisions The council took action on numerous items during the April 7, 2015 meeting, with most measures passing by unanimous or voice vote. **Procedural and Administrative Approvals** [timestamp: 0:09:02] The council unanimously approved the March 17, 2015 council meeting docket (motion by Farmer, second by Henson) and the March 10, 2015 summary (motion by Stinnett, second by Henson). The council also unanimously ratified the appointment of Chris Ford as Commissioner of Social Services, Grade 536E (motion by Kay, second by Henson). **Failed Motions** [timestamp: 0:09:02] A motion by Stinnett, seconded by Henson, to place an ordinance amending section 1 of Ordinance No. 166-2014 to change meeting dates on the March 19 Council meeting docket failed. Additionally, a motion by Mossotti, seconded by Evans, to schedule a Special Budget & Finance Committee meeting on the minimum wage issue failed on a roll call vote with 2 ayes, 8 nays, and 5 abstentions. Those voting in favor were Mossotti and Lane. Those voting against were Kay, Stinnett, Moloney, Lamb, Farmer, Scutchfield, Brown, and Bledsoe. **Infrastructure and Budget Approvals** [timestamp: 0:09:02] The council unanimously approved neighborhood development funds (motion by Henson, second by Kay), Woodland Avenue pedestrian enhancements including a four-way stop and speed limit reduction (motion by Farmer, second by Kay), and budget amendments (motion by Farmer, second by Scutchfield). A $36,250 budget amendment for the purchase of land for Fire Station 24 passed unanimously (motion by Stinnett, second by Farmer). The council approved issuing an RFP for a Pavement Management Plan on a roll call vote with 14 ayes and 1 nay (motion by Farmer, second by Scutchfield). Brown voted against the measure, while Kay, Stinnett, Moloney, Ford, Akers, Gibbs, Lamb, Farmer, Evans, Scutchfield, Mossotti, Bledsoe, Henson, and Lane voted in favor. **Committee Referrals and Other Actions** [timestamp: 0:09:02] The council unanimously placed the Economic Contingency Fund issue into the Budget & Finance Committee (motion by Farmer, second by Brown) and referred the traffic signals issue to the Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee (motion by Stinnett, second by Brown). The Mayor's report was unanimously approved (motion by Akers, second by Kay). **Legislation** [timestamp: 0:10:08 and 0:18:16] The council passed multiple pieces of legislation by voice vote, including authorizations for various agreements, federal fund applications, and project amendments. These included L0069-15, L0082-15, L0264-15, L0330-15, L0335-15, L0353-15, L0363-15, L0374-15, L0387-15, L0390-15, L0391-15, L0398-15, L0399-15, and L0401-15. The council adjourned unanimously (motion by Scutchfield, second by Brown) [timestamp: 0:35:41]. ## Budget and Financial Actions The meeting addressed ten financial items, including contract agreements, amendments, grant applications, and property acquisitions. **Amendments and Change Orders:** - Change Order No. 2 (FINAL) to Bluegrass Contracting Corp. for the Meadows/Northland/Arlington Public Improvements Project, Phase 5B reduced the agreement by $10,502.42 (L0069-15) - Change Order No. 1 (FINAL) to Randle-Davies Construction Company for the Brighton East Rail Trail Project - Phase II added $78,609.51 (L0353-15) **Service and Supply Agreements:** - AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. was contracted for environmental engineering, data collection, and laboratory services at the Haley Pike Landfill at $90,000 per year for three years (L0082-15) - Smart Systems was contracted to supply dishwashing chemicals for the Child Care Food Program at the Family Care Center for FY 2015 at $1,000 (L0374-15) - An agreement with Goodwill Cars to Work program was approved with no fiscal impact (L0335-15) **Economic Development:** - Summit Biosciences received an incentive agreement for $100,000 with a personal guarantee from company ownership (L0330-15) **Federal and State Grants:** - $1,278,000 in federal funds from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet were received for design of Phases IV, V, and VI of Town Branch Trail under the CMAQ Program (L0264-15) - An application to the U.S. Department of Justice was submitted for federal funds under the 2015 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) for reimbursement of costs related to incarcerated undocumented criminal aliens (L0363-15) - An application to the Kentucky Department for Local Government was submitted for $73,450 in federal FY 2015 Land and Water Conservation Fund grants for upgrading Masterson Station Playground (L0390-15) **Property Acquisition:** - Three properties were acquired for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the Lafayette/Southbend Area at a total cost of $500,000 (L0401-15) ## Public Comment Three speakers addressed the council on matters of community concern during the April 7, 2015 meeting. **Jacobson Park Playground Universal Design** [timestamp: 0:23:13] Jennifer Arena and Annette Jett presented a petition requesting a fully accessible and inclusive rebuild of Jacobson Park Playground. They emphasized the importance of universal design principles to ensure the playground serves children with disabilities. **City's Reputation and Couch Burning** [timestamp: 0:29:05] Council Member Bledsoe raised concerns about Lexington's negative national image resulting from the tradition of burning couches following UK Wildcats victories. Bledsoe urged the city to reconsider this practice. **Speed Bumps on Ash Street** [timestamp: 0:31:48] Chad Walker requested assistance with installing speed bumps on Ash Street. Walker stated that the installation process had been derailed due to skipped procedural steps and a lack of appeal options, despite demonstrated neighborhood support for the project. ## Appointments The following appointment was made during this meeting: * Brown was appointed to the Public Works Committee * Brown was appointed to the Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee * Brown was appointed to the General Government & Social Services Committee ## Contested Items The April 7, 2015 meeting included three items that generated significant disagreement among participants. **Department Reorganization of Grants & Special Programs** Several committee members raised concerns about a proposed reorganization that would move the Division of Grants & Special Programs from the CAO's office to Planning. The primary objection centered on coordination issues that members worried would result from this change. Despite these concerns, a motion to remove the reorganization from the committee's consideration passed unanimously. **Inclusion of Veterans as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises** Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding whether to add Veterans to the disadvantaged business enterprises category. The debate focused on whether this addition would dilute the current 10% goal for disadvantaged businesses and create unwanted competition among eligible groups. The motion to include Veterans failed due to lack of a second. **Jacobson Park Playground Redesign** The proposed redesign of the Jacobson Park playground became a point of community division. A petition was presented advocating for a full rebuild incorporating universal design principles. This proposal faced opposition from those who preferred a renovation approach instead. The disagreement reflected broader community concerns about the scope and direction of the project. ## Public Comment - Issues on Agenda [timestamp: 00:09:02] No members of the public signed up to provide comment on issues on the agenda. As a result, this portion of the meeting proceeded without public testimony, and the body moved forward to the next agenda item. ## Requested Rezoning/Docket Approval [timestamp: 00:09:02] No rezoning requests were presented during this agenda item. Additionally, docket approval was not required, as there was no council meeting scheduled for that week. This item was presented for informational purposes only. ## Approval of Summary The committee considered approval of the March 10, 2015 summary [timestamp: 00:09:02]. Key speakers on this agenda item included Henson and Scutchfield. The March 10, 2015 summary was approved unanimously by the committee. ## Budget Amendments Budget amendments were presented and approved during this agenda item [timestamp: 09:02]. **Key Speakers** Farmer and Stinnett led the discussion on the budget amendments. **Amendments Approved** The amendments included a $36,250 addition for the Fire Station 24 land purchase. **Outcome** The budget amendments were approved. ## New Business The new business agenda was presented and approved during the meeting [timestamp: 00:09:02]. Item K regarding the Lexington Distillery District was removed from consideration prior to the vote. Several new business items were discussed and approved during this portion of the meeting. Key speakers contributing to the discussion included Farmer, Henson, and Stinnett. The new business agenda, with the noted removal of the Lexington Distillery District item, was ultimately approved by the body. ## Continuing Business/ Presentations Council Member Akers provided a summary of the Special General Government & Social Services Committee meeting held on March 10, 2015 [timestamp: 0:19:25]. The presentation covered three main topics: **Workforce Development** Discussion focused on workforce development initiatives and related programs. **Department Reorganization** The committee addressed proposed changes to departmental structure and organization. **Veterans as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises** The committee examined policies and opportunities related to veterans' participation in disadvantaged business enterprise programs. This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action or decision required. The summary provided council members with an overview of the committee's work and discussions from the previous month. ## Council Reports Council Member Henson presented on the Build Inclusion initiative, which focuses on universal design improvements for Jacobson Park Playground. [timestamp: 0:22:39] Vice Mayor Kaye announced new appointments to various committees during this portion of the meeting. Council Member Gibbs proposed a motion to refer a traffic signal discussion to the Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee for further consideration. The Council Reports segment was informational in nature, with no formal action items requiring a vote beyond Gibbs' referral motion. ## Mayor's Report No mayor's report was presented during this meeting [timestamp: 0:31:15]. ## Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda [timestamp: 31:48] During this public comment period, several community members and a council member raised issues not listed on the meeting agenda. Chad Walker addressed the difficulty in installing speed bumps on Ash Street, citing procedural obstacles that have hindered the project's progress. Jennifer Arena and Annette Jett advocated for the incorporation of universal design principles in the Jacobson Park Playground, emphasizing the importance of accessibility in public recreational facilities. Council Member Bledsoe raised concerns about the city's public image, specifically criticizing the association between the city and incidents involving burning couches. The outcome of this agenda item was informational, with no formal action taken. ## Adjournment The meeting was adjourned following a motion to adjourn that was passed. [timestamp: 00:35:41] Key speakers involved in the adjournment were Scutchfield and Farmer. The motion to adjourn was approved. --- ## Decisions - **Motion** — passed: Approval of the March 17, 2015 council meeting docket - **Motion** — failed: Motion to place on the docket for the March 19 Council meeting an ordinance amending section 1 of Ordinance No. 166-2014 to change meeting dates - **Motion** — passed: Resolution ratifying the appointment of Chris Ford, Commissioner Social Services, Grade 536E - **Motion** — passed: Approval of the March 10, 2015 summary - **Motion** — passed: Approval of neighborhood development funds - **Motion** — passed: Approval of Woodland Avenue pedestrian enhancements (Four-Way stop and Speed limit reduction) - **Motion** — passed (14-1): Approval of issuing an RFP for Pavement Management Plan - **Motion** — passed: Approval of budget amendments - **Motion** — passed: Addition of a Budget Amendment in the amount of $36,250 for the purchase of land for Fire Station 24 - **Motion** — passed: Approval of new business - **Motion** — passed: Removal of item K from new business - **Motion** — failed (2-8): Motion to schedule a Special Budget & Finance Committee meeting on minimum wage issue - **Motion** — passed: Motion to place the Economic Contingency Fund issue into Budget & Finance Committee - **Motion** — passed: Motion to refer traffic signals issue to Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee - **Motion** — passed: Approval of the Mayor's report - **L0069-15** — passed: Authorization to execute change order No. 2 (FINAL) to reduce the agreement with Bluegrass Contracting Corp. in the amount of $10,502.42 for Meadows/Northland/Arlington Public Improvements Project, Phase 5B - **L0082-15** — passed: Authorization to execute an agreement between LFUCG and AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. for environmental engineering, data collection, and laboratory services at the Haley Pike Landfill for three years at up to $90,000 per year - **L0264-15** — passed: Authorization to accept federal funds in the amount of $1,278,000 from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for design of Phases IV, V, and VI of Town Branch Trail under the CMAQ Program - **L0330-15** — passed: Authorization to negotiate and execute an incentive agreement between LFUCG and Summit Biosciences for $100,000 with personal guarantee from company ownership - **L0335-15** — passed: Authorization for the Mayor to execute an agreement between LFUCG and Goodwill Cars to Work program - **L0353-15** — passed: Authorization to execute Change Order No. 1 (FINAL) to the agreement with Davies Construction Company for $78,609.51 to contract with Randle-Davies Construction Company for construction of the Brighton East Rail Trail Project - Phase II - **L0363-15** — passed: Authorization to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Justice for federal funds under the 2015 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) - **L0374-15** — passed: Authorization to execute an agreement between LFUCG and Smart Systems for dishwashing chemicals for use in the Child Care Food Program at the Family Care Center - FY 2015 - **L0387-15** — passed: Authorization to donate the remains of a totaled LFUCG vehicle to the Automotive Technology program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College - **L0390-15** — passed: Authorization to submit an application to the Kentucky Department for Local Government for federal funds in the amount of $73,450 from the FY 2015 Land and Water Conservation Fund for upgrading Masterson Station Playground to be compliant with the updated ADA - **L0391-15** — passed: Authorization to repeal Ordinance 266-2008 and dissolve the Lexington Distillery District Development Area and Incremental Tax Special Fund - **L0398-15** — passed: Authorization to execute Amendments to Agreements with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet extending performance period of various projects through June 30, 2016 - **L0399-15** — passed: Authorization to execute Amendments to Agreements with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet extending performance period of Southland Drive CMAQ Project and Tates Creek Road Sidewalk Project through December 31, 2015 - **L0401-15** — passed: Authorization to accept deeds for fee simple acquisition of three properties required for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the Lafayette/Southbend Area in an amount not to exceed $500,000 - **Motion** — passed: Motion to adjourn - **Motion** — passed: Motion by Council Member Gibbs to place into Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee a discussion of changing signaled intersections to four-way stops at Woodland Avenue and Central Avenue, and Kentucky Avenue and Central Avenue --- ## Full transcript Music Thank you. The End Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry. Thank you. Thank you all for joining us for the work session. I'll call the meeting to order and first ask for public comment for issues on the agenda. Mr. Mundy, has anyone signed up for issues on the agenda? All right. No one has signed up for issues on the agenda. That allows us to move on to rezoning requests and the docket approval. Are there any rezoning requests? No. All right. We don't need a docket approval this week because no council meeting. That allows us to move on to approval of the summary. Is there a motion? Move approval. Motion by Council Member Henson, second by Council Member Scotchfield. Is there any discussion on the motion? All right. If not, then we can take a vote. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. Next is budget amendments. I'm showing no budget amendments this week. And that allows us to move on to new business. Is there a motion to approve? I'll move. Second. Motion by Council Member Farmer, second by Council Member Henson. And just a second. All right. And the floor is available for discussion. Council Member Maloney. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like if you could ask someone to come up and speak on 0082-15. I believe it's either Thurman or Holmes. If you could ask one of them to come up, please. I appreciate it. I'm sorry. 0082. All right. We have Susan Pflueger and we have David Holmes both arriving at the podium. I appreciate it. I had a meeting with David Holmes on this one. I had some concerns about $90,000 a year for three years on doing examples, testing water and all that. It was a little bit steep, but I went back and looked at the contract. The contract has down it for $45,000 a year and not to go over, if there's methane, not to go over $13,800, which I thought was reasonable. I can understand that part. But why are we putting in $90,000 when you look at it? It's really going to be at $58,800. Yes, thank you. I'll explain a little bit of that. My division of Environmental Services manages this contract on behalf of Waste Management, so that's why I'm up here. There's three parts to the $90,000. The first is the surface water monitoring, groundwater monitoring, landfill leachate monitoring. That's the $45,000 that you mentioned. The second part is $13,800, which is for methane monitoring, which is a backup contingency. We currently do that in-house, but if ever we are not able to accomplish that, we need to have that on-call contract available to do that methane monitoring. The third part is $31,200, and that's for environmental engineering services, which we use every day. They're kind of ongoing, routine things that we do related to permit compliance at the landfill. For example, we do non-routine sampling if we have an issue. We work on our sampling outfalls. We have permit modifications and renewals, and we have design modifications that we constantly have to do with the leachate system. Now to Haley Pike. So those are the types of things that are involved with that third piece of the component. I looked back at how much we have expended related to this contract over the last five years to give some type of background and history to this. And I found that we have expended on average between 2009-2014 annual expenses paid of $98,870 for this contract, which means in the past we have done some change orders. In the past, the contract was $76,600. It did not include the methane monitoring component. So we felt that the $90,000 was very typical for this contract, and it allows us to use the set rates that we have in the contract for three years, plus three one-year renewals. It keeps our costs down, and it speeds up our response time. So we've been doing this already for over five years with the low landfill monitoring. We averaged $98,000, and we hope not to have to spend $90,000, and we're constantly working to optimize our work out there, but we feel that $90,000 is going to be about typical. For example, this year, this fiscal year, we spent $87,000 so far on these activities. So where, I mean, I didn't see it in the contract, where would that $21,000 be brought down? Because I see where you have the $45,000 and the $13,800. Where in this year's contract would they have the $21,000 additional? We have a component in there for extra work, and we use the contract rates that are already preset. So you don't have a number in there. Right, because each project, every year the projects vary that we have to do. Okay. All right, I appreciate it. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Council Member Maloney. Thank you, Susan. Council Member Farmer. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Mayor. Mine was on, I have a couple of three, but my first one is on what I think is item D on page 12, the jobs fund incentives for Summit Biosciences. So we've got Kevin Atkins available for this and Wes Holbrook as well. As he approaches, I would just, you know, people pull you aside at odd times and places and give you admonition on behalf of the city. And they want good high-paying jobs. So at $31.75 an hour, is that a good high-paying job? When the threshold is $17.30 something, then that's almost double the requirement for the jobs fund. Then that's exactly what people are asking for. So this is your third successful one? Is that what I heard you say in your message? I don't even mean to ask the mayor. Fourth. Fourth. Is that what it is? Fourth. And you're proposing more for this in your budget? Yes. Excellent. Yes, sir. Thank you on that very much. Briefly then to, I guess while you're still there, item K on page 23. So is this the end for the distillery district as we know it? I actually wouldn't call it the end. I would call it a new beginning. We have a letter from Mr. Simpson from last year regarding the withdrawal saying that they agreed with it after the discussions we previously had. we've been waiting to see what the potential was for development there. In the last month, we met with a developer who is interested in one of the parcels. He's interested in a property tax TIF only, similar to what Mr. Schweitzer did, for example, out at Turflin. So while we would be doing away with this, we're probably going to be coming back to you in the future months ahead to do just that parcel. Narrower, more focused then. Narrow, more focused. The state's already considered the district withdrawn. To get it going again, we would have to reapply. We'd have to do a new consultant study. All that money would have to be spent again. But we still have a lot of good data to use there based on that money that's been spent, don't we? And you all are investing in some good projects in that area as well. There's more economic vitality done. There are more businesses. There's more things going on. I think the interest is to turn the corner. I think that's what this does. Thank you very much. And then lastly, item M on page 26. I'm just interested. I mean, this is to roll some grants forward. And I just, having been so involved in the Taste Creek Road project, I'm just wondering what are we rolling forward here? Commissioner Paulson here. Commissioner Paulson is here. Or Irene, you're going to handle it. We've got a whole bunch of people to come up and talk about. We've got Keith Lovin and Brad Frazier to come and talk about the projects. Thank you. Hi. Welcome. Thank you. So what's not done, I guess? Basically, we're just cleaning up the paperwork. We have a final change order that's going to be coming through. All of the work is done on the Tates Creek. We're just cleaning up the books. Well, we'll take care of, I guess, money coming and going and getting things settled. Correct. Basically closing out the contract. All right. And we weren't able to do that before the grant expired, so that's why we're asking for an extension on the grant. That'll get it done. That'll get it done, yes. So nothing substantive, just paperwork. Correct. I mean, as far as the sidewalk. Very good. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Councilman Farmer. Councilman Massadi. Thank you, Mayor. Kevin, I'm sorry to have you come up again and try to signal you to stay where you were. On page 23, it's in reference to the Lexington Distillery District. Have any of the principles changed that are involved in the development at this point or are going to change? Like a drum roll. I think we need that new building. There are some new investors involved. I think I can hear you anyway. test no we I mean they're the ones that that ask about this all right thank you council member Masati all right no if there's no further discussion then we can take a vote on the motion all in favor and please indicate by saying aye Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. Allows us to move on to continuing business and presentations. And first, I'll ask Council Member Akers for a summary of the Special General Government and Social Services Committee. Thank you, Mayor. This is for the Special General Government Social Services Committee held March 10th at 11 a.m. It was originally scheduled for March 3rd, but rescheduled due to the power outage at the government center. The committee approved the February 3rd, 2015 committee meeting summary unanimously. Kevin Atkins presented an update regarding ongoing workforce development and job training efforts. Billy Pivler with Commerce Lexington presented information on the redesignation process for workforce areas and presented potential options for workforce area boundaries. There was an extensive committee discussion regarding the potential for an eight-county region, including Fayette, to be designated as a workforce area. The governor has set a tentative deadline of March 30, 2015, to make a decision regarding the redesignation of workforce area boundaries. If unfavorable, the decision can be appealed. There was no further action. Next, the committee discussed proposed department reorganization for division of grants and special programs. programs. Commissioner Paulson presented the proposed department reorganization, which would move the Division of Grants and Special Programs from the CAO's office to the Department of Planning, Preservation, and Development. He clarified that the function of grants and special programs will not change, but coordination efforts will be enhanced as a result of the reorganization. Several committee members stated concerns regarding the proposed reorganization, citing the importance of grants and special programs coordination with all departments. No action was taken on the proposed reorganization. A motion was made by Council Member Brown to remove the reorg of grants and special programs from committee, seconded by Council Member Maloney, and the motion passed without dissent. I don't need to bring that forward. Okay, next on the agenda was the inclusion of veterans as disadvantaged business enterprises. I introduced the item and stated that I recently received a constituent request to add veterans to the city's designation of disadvantaged business enterprises. I presented a summary of information included in the packet, including draft language regarding the item. Committee members voiced concerns that adding veterans as disadvantaged business enterprises would create competition with existing disadvantaged business enterprises. The possibility of creating a unique participation goal for veterans was discussed. And then a motion was made by Council Member Henson to change the verbiage in Resolution 16791 regarding disadvantaged businesses from handicapped to disabled individual, and that motion was withdrawn. The meeting adjourned at 12.58 p.m. And that's the end of my report. Thank you, Council Member Akers. Thank you, Mayor. And next on our agenda is Council Reports. If you'll please sign on for council reports, and I will call on you. Did I see Councilmember Henson? I did see Councilmember Henson. Councilmember Henson. Thank you, Mayor. As you all know, I spend a lot of my time, I've spent a lot of my life working with individuals with disabilities or barriers. and I was recently approached by a lady who is a good friend of mine and lives in Council District 11 about an initiative she's taken on. So I wanted to use my time to ask her and her friend Annette, Jennifer Arena and Annette Jett, if they would come and talk to you about what I feel is a very important issue that we need to be thinking about as a community. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Henson. You all have seen me before in October as I presented Advocacy and Inclusion on a Mission, which was a disability education program for our elementary students and community members. Jennifer Arena is here with me today and we are representing Build Inclusion which is the parent company of that initiative. We have a petition that is asking for universal design in the rebuild of Jacobson Park Playground so that it becomes fully accessible and inclusive which mean two different things in parks terms. Accessible means the physical accessibility and inclusive play actually speaks to the sensory and cognitive abilities of people. You may question why we even need a petition for this, but there have been those among our community that have protested rebuilding the playground and instead want a renovation. So we've researched the issue, and we have a handout for you that explains that Jacobson Park has actually exceeded its lifespan. It's 21 years old. It was built to be 20 years old. They don't even use the same types of materials that they used to back in that time. And what we would like to see is a rebuild that offers a nice core foundation. Mayor Gray has generously put $300,000 toward that project. and then after that we would like to see, after the Corps is made, we would like to help get grants and that type of thing to help build and expand on the playground. But our main mission is to create community access and build inclusion for all members of our community. You gave us a good segue there when you said you want to build a great American city, and that's what we would like to do too. So I'll hand it over to Jennifer. A few things about our petition. It started just two weeks ago, and we focused mainly on the city of Lexington. So 67% of our signatures come from Lexington, 93% come from Kentucky. We're up to 462 right now. We've had a lot of good sharing of this idea, and we're working hard to make this potential much more known to the city of Lexington. We feel that this is an opportunity right here and right now. And if we miss this opportunity, we will miss something very important for the City of Lexington and for all of our children and individuals with disabilities. The packet includes some of our comments that has been left on the petition. basically we also would like to just add that we would like to see Jacobson Park become a destination park for not only people in Lexington but for others and hopefully draw some economic and tourism development here um its its location is is prime for that and um as Jennifer said we'd like to seize the moment thank you very much do you have any questions thank you Thank you all for coming today. And I do think this is a very important issue. Many times we think about ADA compliance, and a lot of that relates to working and adults with disabilities, entering public buildings. But I think we need to think about our parks a little more, too. Not that every park needs to be a destination park for a child with a physical disability, but, you know, we need to be in the forefront and have a park in our city, within our city that is. So my time's up, but thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Henson. Vice Mayor Kaye. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to officially, again, welcome the new council. he's moved, new Council Member Brown, and to notify him and Council that I am appointing him to the two committees that his predecessor, Council Member Ford, sat on the public works and environmental quality and general services and social services, general government and social services. So he'll be serving on those two committees. Thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Council Member Gibbs. Thank you, Mayor. I move to place into the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee a discussion of changing signaled intersections to four-way stops at the following intersections, Woodland Avenue and Central Avenue, Kentucky Avenue and Central Avenue. So moved. Motion by Council Member Gibbs and second by Council Member Massadi. Is there any discussion on the motion? All right. If not, then we can take a vote. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Motion carries. All right. Thank you, Councilman Gibbs. Councilman Massadi. Thank you, Mary. It takes a second to come out. okay councilmember Bledsoe well thank you councilmember farmer I appreciate the sharing the mic here I know it we're all we were all somewhat disappointed about our UK Wildcats like they played really really hard and you know it's tough to go that long and be undefeated. I mean, no one realizes the pressure these young kids are under to go that far. And my hat's off to them and the coach and how far that they did go. And I really respect them for that. But what I don't really respect is how we kind of act as, I guess, constituents of this city. I'm really dismayed when I see that we make the national news because we burn couches. and I'm just wondering if there's something that we can do to change that. I hate for that image to be known as Lexington, Kentucky. We win a couple of ballgames and we burn couches. And I don't know if there's something that we need to talk about in committee. It's just something that really bothers me to have that kind of a reputation. I'm sure they're not burning couches at Duke today, and maybe they are, but I haven't heard of it. And I just, something like that, I think that we really need to be cognizant of and not have our city be known as that because we have so much here to offer, and we have such a great city and such a great university. And hopefully we can change this because it doesn't bode well for us. Thank you, Mayor. All right. Thank you, Council Member Sadi. Council Member Bledsoe. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to invite anybody who's still interested in participating in the Southland Street Fair. The vendor opportunity is open until the 10th of this week. until April 10th. We have over 50 vendors already signed up to participate, which is pretty extraordinary. So that's this May 9th on Saturday from 3 to 8th. And again, if you're interested in being a vendor or participating, go to the SouthlandStreetFair.com. Thanks. All right. Thank you, Council Member Bledsoe. Looks like that's all council members who have signed up for council report. Allows us to move on to the mayor's report. There's no mayor's report this week. Allows us to move on to public comment for issues not on the agenda. I have one person who signed up Mr. Walker is Chad Walker yeah afternoon I'm Chad Walker with Walker properties and I've kind of hit a dead end on an issue and I was going to see if you guys could help me out I'm glad that you hit on the traffic calming and the traffic agenda because that's what I'm here to talk about today is speed bumps on Ash Street essentially we got to a certain point and i believe that certain members of traffic management just wouldn't allow it to go any farther i think it's a budgetary issue because the citizens of ash street only would have to pay 10 of the 90 or the 100 cost share and you know i don't think i could go into all of it as we're sitting here but i've got plenty of information i could send or give to you guys and come back at a different time, but I'm kind of stuck. I don't know where to go from here. I've hit walls. There's basically no appeal process that I can possibly exhaust before coming before you guys, so that's where I'm at today. All right. I know that commissioners here that may be able to help. I don't think Dow is here. Is she, David? Chad, you have two more minutes if you want to give a little bit of a brief synopsis. Oh, yeah, I'd rather just give this information, everybody pass it around, and you guys. I've still got a minute. You have a couple minutes on the timer on there. The gist of it is basically that we tried to get speed bumps installed on Ash Street, went through the certain criteria that's allotted by the city that we have to have a meeting, a petition sign, things like that. But for some reason, traffic management skipped too crucial process in that whole, basically the rules for installing the speed bumps. And it derailed everything. After trying to appeal to resend ballots and things like that, it just didn't go anywhere. And I was basically told that it's a dead issue, that I cannot appeal, and that also originally I was told that I could appeal in two years. then that was amended to I can appeal immediately, but I'd have to re-petition the neighborhood as well as, you know, start the whole process over. Like I said, Ash Street's a very poor street, and we did basically everything that we possibly could to get these installed. The neighborhood is very much for it. But, you know, the ballots came back, and I think we liked maybe three or four votes, and we only were given two weeks from the time that the ballots were sent out and expected to be returned to get to some people that were, I mean, there was 20% of the, I'm sorry, 10% of the properties owned by a gentleman in Maryland. So, as you said, I don't know where to go from here. I'm really looking for y'all's help. All right. I had a suggestion that you talk to Commissioner Holmes about it, but other council members have something to say? Council Member Lamb? I mean, I was just curious if it was the reason was that I didn't think that they were installing speed humps anymore. But, I mean, that was my understanding. It's called speed tables, I guess. Now I'm calling them speed bumps because that's what I know. Okay, okay. It makes more of a Dukes of Hazzard jump versus the big bump. So, yeah. Right, okay. That way, if you're going above 30, then you get airborne. But other than that, it's not the teeth jar when it used to be like Lexington Mall and stuff. I know my district has a lot of speed humps in them, and they cause very much. No, it's not those guys. And these are all buses that can still go over them. The snow plows, things like that can still go over them. Okay. All right. Sally, did I see you? Chief Administrative Officer Sally Hamilton is arriving on her way up to the podium. It's a good start. Thanks. Thank you. It's nice to meet you. If it pleases the council, I will, and Commissioner Holmes and Traffic Management, Dallas Squires will meet with Mr. Walker and see what we can work out here, if that suits the council. All right. That would be great. Thanks, Sally. Thank you, Sally. All right. That's all who signed up for public comment. Is there a chair? I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. There's a second by Councilmember Farmer. Unless there's objection, we are adjourned. you