# Urban County Council - March 19, 2020 > Auto-transcribed civic record · March 19, 2020 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/5015 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/5015?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2020-03-19 - **Last revised**: March 19, 2020 - **Length**: 10,129 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 convened on March 19, 2020, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting focused primarily on matters related to the Downtown Lexington Management District, with council members considering multiple agenda items addressing the district's re-establishment and associated assessments. During the session, the council addressed three main agenda items, including an informational presentation on re-establishing the Downtown Lexington Management District and consideration of an ordinance to formally re-establish the district. The council took three votes throughout the meeting, successfully approving the ordinance to re-establish the Downtown Lexington Management District while withdrawing another ordinance that would have imposed an annual assessment on property at 1810 Bryant Road. The meeting also included input from the public, with two citizens providing comments during the public comment period. Overall, the council accomplished its primary objective of moving forward with the re-establishment of the Downtown Lexington Management District, though one related measure was withdrawn from consideration. ## Attendance The meeting on March 19, 2020 had strong attendance with 12 members present and 3 absent. **Present:** • Mayor Gorton • J. Brown • Ellinger • Evans • Farmer • Lamb • Moloney • Plomin • Reynolds • Worley • Bledsoe • F. Brown **Absent:** • Kay • McCurn • Mossotti **Late:** • None No members arrived late to the meeting. The attendance represented a quorum with 12 of 15 members present at the start of the meeting. ## Votes and Decisions The council took action on three items during the March 19, 2020 meeting, with all votes occurring around the same time period. **Ordinance 0091-20** - An Ordinance re-establishing the Downtown Lexington Management District was brought to a vote by Councilmember Farmer, with a second from Councilmember Ellinger [timestamp: 06:04]. The measure passed unanimously on a roll call vote with 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Lamb, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, and F. Brown. **Ordinance 0336-20** - An Ordinance imposing an annual assessment on the real property located at 1810 Bryant Rd. was motioned by Councilmember Worley and seconded by Councilmember Ellinger [timestamp: 06:04]. This item was withdrawn with unanimous consent from all 11 council members present: J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Lamb, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, and F. Brown. **Resolution 0371-20** - A Resolution authorizing the advertisement for bids for General Obligation Pension Funding Refunding Bonds was motioned by Councilmember Ellinger with a second from Councilmember Plomin [timestamp: 06:04]. The resolution passed unanimously on a roll call vote with 11 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Lamb, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, and F. Brown. All three items received unanimous support from the 11 council members present, with two items passing and one being withdrawn by unanimous consent. ## Budget and Financial Actions The council addressed several financial matters totaling over $17.8 million in appropriations and bond issuances. **Parks and Recreation Projects** The council approved multiple appropriations for Division of Parks and Recreation improvements: • **Resolution 0341-20**: Appropriated $43,500 for Council Projects to fund playground improvements at Masterson Station • **Resolution 0368-20**: Allocated $3,000 for Council Projects to install fencing at Burley Park • **Resolution 0370-20**: Approved $27,000 for Council Projects to support a pedestrian safety project at Tates Creek Golf Course and Aquatic Center **Bond Issuance** The council authorized a significant bond measure through **Resolution 0367-20**, approving the issuance of $17,775,000 in General Obligation Pension Funding Refunding Bonds, Series 2020A. This represents the largest financial action of the meeting. The combined parks and recreation appropriations totaled $73,500, supporting infrastructure improvements across multiple city facilities including playground upgrades, safety enhancements, and basic facility improvements like fencing. All financial items were processed as individual resolutions, with the parks projects specifically designated as Council Projects within the Division of Parks and Recreation budget structure. ## Public Comment Two members of the public addressed the meeting during the public comment period, both raising concerns related to the coronavirus emergency. **Mr. J. Brown** [timestamp: 06:04] spoke about evictions during the coronavirus emergency. He expressed concerns about the impact of the pandemic on housing stability and mentioned that he had been in discussions with both the Lexington Landlord Association and the Greater Apartment Association regarding this issue. **Mr. Moloney** [timestamp: 06:04] addressed employee safety concerns during the coronavirus pandemic. He offered his personal workspace as a resource to help facilitate social distancing measures for employees, demonstrating community support for public health safety protocols during the emergency. Both comments reflected the immediate concerns facing the community as officials worked to address the emerging coronavirus crisis and its impact on residents and workers. ## Contested Items The meeting addressed community concerns regarding evictions during the coronavirus emergency [timestamp not available]. **Evictions During Coronavirus Emergency** Community members raised significant concerns about the potential for tenant evictions during the ongoing coronavirus emergency situation. The nature of the opposition centered on fears that renters might face displacement during an already challenging public health crisis. However, discussions revealed that local landlord associations had been engaged in dialogue about the situation. According to the meeting information, these landlord groups indicated they were making efforts to work collaboratively with tenants during the emergency period rather than pursuing evictions. The item represented a proactive community concern rather than a formal policy dispute, with residents seeking assurance that vulnerable tenants would be protected during the coronavirus emergency. The response from landlord associations suggesting cooperation with tenants appeared to address some of the community's immediate concerns about potential displacement during the crisis. No specific outcome or formal resolution was documented for this item, suggesting it may have been addressed through the reported collaborative efforts between landlords and tenants rather than requiring official government action at this meeting. ## Re-establishing the Downtown Lexington Management District [timestamp: 06:03] The Council held a public hearing on agenda item 0274-20 regarding the re-establishment of the Downtown Lexington Management District. Mayor Gorton presided over the hearing, which was opened to receive public input on the proposed district. The public hearing provided an opportunity for community members to voice their opinions, concerns, or support regarding the re-establishment of the management district for downtown Lexington. However, no members of the public came forward to offer comments during the designated time period. The Downtown Lexington Management District would serve as a mechanism for coordinating services, improvements, and management activities within the downtown area. Such districts typically involve property owners and businesses working together to enhance the economic vitality and physical appearance of commercial districts. With no public testimony presented, the hearing concluded without additional discussion or debate from Council members. The item was informational in nature, serving as the required public input process for the proposed district re-establishment. The absence of public comments suggests either general community support for the initiative or lack of awareness about the proposal among downtown stakeholders. The formal public hearing process fulfilled the legal requirements for public notification and input opportunity before the Council could proceed with any further action on re-establishing the management district. ## Ordinance re-establishing the Downtown Lexington Management District [timestamp: 06:04] The Urban County Council considered Ordinance 0091-20, which re-establishes the Downtown Lexington Management District. This ordinance sets forth the legal framework for the district's operations, including specific geographical boundaries, board composition requirements, and fiscal management guidelines. Key speakers during the discussion included Council members Farmer and Ellinger, who addressed various aspects of the ordinance and its implications for downtown management and development. The ordinance establishes the administrative structure necessary for the management district to operate effectively, providing clear parameters for governance and financial oversight. The re-establishment of this district represents a continuation of organized efforts to manage and promote downtown Lexington's commercial and civic interests. Following discussion, the council approved Ordinance 0091-20, formally re-establishing the Downtown Lexington Management District with the specified boundaries, board requirements, and fiscal guidelines as outlined in the legislation. --- ## Decisions - **0091-20** — passed (11-0): An Ordinance re-establishing the Downtown Lexington Management District - **0336-20** — withdrawn (11-0): An Ordinance imposing an annual assessment on the real property located at 1810 Bryant Rd. - **0371-20** — passed (11-0): A Resolution authorizing the advertisement for bids for General Obligation Pension Funding Refunding Bonds --- ## Full transcript When we make love, it's understood It's more than a touch or a word we say Only in dreams could it be this way When you love someone, yeah, really love someone Now I know it's right From the moment I wake up Deep in the night There's nowhere on earth I'd rather be Than hoping you can believe I've been waiting For a girl like you To come into my life I've been waiting For a girl like you And the love that will survive I've been waiting For someone new To make me feel alive Yeah, waiting For a girl like me To come into my life I've been waiting Waiting for you I've been waiting for a girl like you I've been waiting Won't you come into my life I'm not alone. Thank you. Don't stop it now. Don't give me no reasons why. Don't stop it now. Keep it coming, love. Keep it coming, love. Don't stop it now. Don't stop it now. Don't stop it now. Don't stop it. Keep it coming, love. Keep it coming, love. Don't stop it now. Don't stop it now. Don't stop it now. Don't stop it, don't build me up just to let me drop. Don't stop it now. Don't turn me on just to turn me on. Don't stop it now. Keep it calm and love, keep it calm and love. Don't stop it now, don't stop it, no, don't stop it now, don't stop. Keep it coming, love Keep it coming, love Don't stop it now, don't stop it, no Don't stop it now, don't stop it Don't tell me there ain't no more Don't stop it now Don't turn me down Just close your door Don't stop it now Keep it coming, love Oh, yeah. Keep it calm and love Thank you. We'll be right back. I've been looking at you, looking at me Bet you're thinking that what you get is what you say But underneath this cool exterior A raging river flows So before you get any nearer I better let you know I'm an emotional girl I can't help myself Sometimes I laugh Sometimes I cry Sometimes I do both And I don't know why I got a passionate heart And that's just the way things are You and me could give it a whirl But I'm warning you, boy, I'm an emotional girl I like music that's loud and lights down low I like driving my car too fast And dancing slow Some folks may say I'm too extreme Cause I can't stop once I start But I never could do anything If half my heart I'm an emotional girl I can't help myself Sometimes I laugh Sometimes I cry Sometimes I do both And I don't know what I'm passionate for And that's just the way things are You and me could give it a whirl But I'm warning you, boy I'm an emotional girl I'm an emotional girl I can't help myself Sometimes I laugh Sometimes I cry Sometimes I do both And I don't know why I got a passion at all And that's just the way things are You and me could give it a whirl But I'm warning you, boy, I'm an emotional girl Yeah, you and me could give it a whirl But I'm warning you, boy I'm an emotional girl Thank you. ¶¶ ¶¶ Today is Thursday, March 19th, 2020, and I'd like to go ahead and call to order our council meeting. And we do have a quorum, and so I'd like to ask the clerk if she will please go ahead and call the roll. Mr. James Brown? Here. Mr. Ellinger? Yes, ma'am. Ms. Evans? Here. Mr. Farmer? Here. Vice Mayor Kay? Ms. Lamb? Here. Mr. McCurn? Here. Mr. Maloney? Yes. Yes. Ms. Massadi? Yes. Ms. Plowman? Yes. Ms. Reynolds? Yes. Mr. Worley? Yes. And Ms. Bledsoe? Yes, ma'am. All right, thank you very much. And Mr. Fred Brown. Thank you very much. All right. Well, this is just going to be quite the meeting, isn't it? So I'd like us all to please rise for the invocation by Councilmember Bill Farmer, Jr. Thank you, Mayor. Let me close our eyes and bow our head. Dear Heavenly Father, for the first time in a century, we stand on the precipice and the wind is at our back, not at our face. We find uncertainty before us. We ask for the courage to turn and to raise a hand to help ourselves and all those around us. We fight not as a nation, not as a people, but as humanity, and ask for your grace and your peace on each one of us. The hymn provides that we draw nearer to thee, to the cross, to the bleeding side. We ask to draw nearer. We know that there are depths of love that we cannot know until we cross the narrow sea. we know many will cross the narrow sea we ask that you extend your hand in grace to each of them and bless them and their families here in our town and every other town we ask that you bless the first responders bless the workers in each and every health care profession and need bless the people of this government for whom so many rely on so many needs will need to be covered. We ask for patience on behalf of all. That blessing, that grace. And dear Lord, in this time, know how much we miss the routine of daily lives, of our families, of our friends, of a friendly handshake. Steal us for this time. Make us worthy and well and provide for the new day. We ask for all these things in your son's sweet name in whom I pray. Amen. Thank you very much, Mr. Farmer. Now, at this time, I'd like to go ahead and open the public hearing for the reestablishment of the downtown Lexington Management District. So the hearing is now open. Is there anyone who wishes to speak? All right. Thank you very much. I declare the hearing closed. Now, with that, will you please give second reading to the ordinances? Excuse me, Mayor. Yes. Motion. Oh, we're going to pause before number five. All right, thank you. Yes, I do have that on my notes. If you'll pause before reading number five. Thank you. Ordinance number one, an ordinance reestablishing and continuing pursuant to KRS 91.750 at SEC. The downtown Lexington Management District previously created and established pursuant to ordinance number 52, 2015, and providing for its boundaries and a 15 member board, the requirements and appointing process for board members and their term limits, the powers of the board, The fiscal year commencing July 1st and the undertaking of economic improvements by the board. A budget and audit process, an affirmative action plan, public information and assessment not to exceed $0.10 of $100 of the assessed property value for each assessed property within the district and a testing and appeal process, liens, an annual report to property owners, ethical requirement on board members, termination of the district on July 1st, 2025 unless reestablished by the Urban County Council in accordance with the state statute, board guidelines, Contracting requirements, management marketing and administration reporting requirements, and advisory council to the board severability all effective upon date of passage. Item number two, an ordinance amending certain of the budgets at the Lexington Fair Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for funds in the amount of $43,500 to provide funds for council projects in the division of Parks and Recreation to assist with phase one of the Masterson Station Playground Improvement and Appropriating and Repropriating Fund Schedule number 41. Item number three, an ordinance of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government authorizing the issuance of the Lexington Fair Urban County Government General Obligation Pension Funding Refunding Bonds, Series 2020A, federally taxable in one or more sub-series in an aggregate principal amount of $17,775,000, which may be increased by an amount of up to 10%. For the purpose of refunding all or a portion of the outstanding principal amount of Lexington Fair Urban County Government taxable general obligation pension funding bonds, series 2012A, approving a form of bond authorizing designated officers to execute and deliver the bonds providing for the payment and security of the bonds, creating a bond payment fund and escrow funds, maintaining the heretofore established sinking fund, authorizing a certificate of award for the acceptance of the bid of the bond purchaser for the purchase of the series 2020A bonds, authorizing an escrow trust agreement and repealing inconsistent ordinances. Item number four, an ordinance amending certain of the budgets of the Lexington and Fair Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for expenditures and appropriating and reappropriating funds at Schedule number 40. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Worley has a motion. Thank you Mayor. I move to remove item number five under second reading of ordinances which pertains to the imposition of an annual assessment on the real property located 1810 Bryant Road on behalf of the administration so moved. Second. Councilmember Ellinger seconded. Are there any questions? Now we're still using the hand vote all those in favor please say I or raise your hand was that did councilmember Maloney did you vote thank you thank you very much that was unanimous so that will be removed thank you item number six an ordinance amending certain of the budgets at Lixin fair urban county government to reflect current requirements for funds in the amount of $3,000 to provide funds for council projects in the division of parks and recreation to install a fence at Burley Park and appropriating and re-appropriating funds schedule number 42 and item number seven an ordinance bending certain of the budgets at Alexia and Fay urban county government to reflect current requirements for the funds in the amount of $27,000 to provide funds for council projects in the division of parks and recreation for pedestrian safety project at Tates Creek Golf Course and Aquatic Center and appropriating re-appropriating funds schedule number 44 thank you thank you very much. Thank you. Councilmember Farmer moved approval. Councilmember Ellinger seconded. Will you please call the roll take the roll call vote. Mr. James Brown. Mr. Ellinger. Ms. Evans. Mr. Farmer. Ms. Lamb? Yes, ma'am. Mr. Maloney? Yes, ma'am. Ms. Plowman? Yes. Ms. Reynolds? Yes. Mr. Worley? Yes, ma'am. Ms. Bledsoe? Yes, ma'am. And Mr. Fred Brown? Yes. Thank you very much. Those pass unanimously. All right. Next, if you will please give second reading to the resolutions. Item number one, a resolution of the Lexington Urban County Government authorizing the advertisement for bids and the distribution of a preliminary official statement for the purchase of the principal amount of its general obligation pension funding refunding bond series 2020A, federally taxable, and an aggregate principal amount of $17,775,000, which amount may be increased by up to 10%. Item number two, a resolution adopting expansion area exhaustion rate tables for January 1, 2015, and March 1, 2020, For roads, parks, stormwater, open space, sewer transmission, and sewer capacity to reflect actual and or contracted costs for eligible system improvements constructed for the Department of Finance, Departments of Environmental Quality and Public Works, and the Divisions of Planning and Engineering, and further authorizing and directing the administration to engage necessary consultants to perform a comprehensive review of the existing Exaction Program to determine whether alternatives exist to equitably allocate and distribute the cost of improvements in the expansion areas which the ultimate objective of bringing the program to a full and final conclusion. Thank you. Thank you very much. Do I approve? Councilmember Ellinger moves approval. Councilmember Plumman seconds. Will you please call the vote? Mr. James Brown? Mr. Ellinger? Yes, ma'am. Miss Evans? Yes. Mr. Farmer? Yes. Miss Lamb? Yes, ma'am. Mr. Maloney? Yes. Miss Plowman? Yes. Miss Reynolds? Yes. Mr. Worley? Yes. Ms. Bledsoe. And Mr. Fred Brown. Thank you very much. Those are approved unanimously. Now, normally, we would have first reading of resolutions. I believe there are a couple of walk-ons. If you will, Council Member James Brown. Thank you, Mayor. I move to place on the docket under resolutions for first reading a resolution authorizing and directing the mayor to execute and submit four grant applications to the Kentucky Office of the State Department of Education. of Homeland Security and to provide any additional information requested in connection with these grant applications, which funds are in the amount of $78,845 federal funds under the Homeland Security Grant for fiscal year 2020 and are for purchase of structural collapse specialist course, $53,000, Hazmat cameras, $10,078. And firelight skid-mounted tank pump reel assembled, $8,000 in plump case for $7,767. So moved. Council Member Farmer seconds that. Are there any questions? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Oh, I'm so sorry. Put your hand up too. Thank you, Council Member Brown. Okay, that passes unanimously. Is there another one? Yes ma'am. You have both, okay. Yes ma'am. I move to place on the docket under resolutions first reading a resolution authorizing and directing the mayor to execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application which grant funds are in the amount of seventy six thousand two hundred forty three dollars federal funds and are and are for the continuation of the street sales drug enforcement project for FY 2021 so move. Council Member Farmer seconds are there any questions all those in favor say aye and raise your hand please that passes unanimously I apologize okay are there any other walk-ons all right will you please give first reading to those resolutions item 3 resolution authorizing and directing the mayor on behalf of the urban county government to execute and submit four grant applications to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security and to provide any additional information requested in connection with these grant applications which grant funds are only a total amount of $78,845 in federal funds under their homeland security grant program for fiscal year 2020 and offer the purchase of a structural collapse specialist course $53,000, hazmat camera $10,078, firelight skid mounted tank pump reel ensemble $8,000 and a plum case for $7,767. And item number four, a resolution authorizing the directing mayor on behalf of the urban county government to execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, and to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application, which grant funds are in the amount of $76,243 federal funds and are for the continuation of the street sales drug enforcement project for fiscal year 2021. Thank you. Thank you very much. Is there a motion to suspend the rules? All right. On which one? Or ones? Okay, very good. I like that. Thank you very much, Council Member Farmer and Council Member Plowman. All those in favor, say aye. Raise your hand. Council Member Brown? No? Okay. Okay. Could I see your hands again? All right. All those opposed? We have one no vote. Fight the power, Fred. All right. Will you please go ahead and give a second reading that passed? Resolution number three, a resolution authorizing directly mayor on behalf of your county government to submit four grant applications to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security and to provide any additional information requested and connected with these grant applications, which grant funds are in the total amount of $78,845 in federal funds under the Homeland Security Grant Program for fiscal year 2020, and are for the purchase of a structural collapse specialist course, 53,000, hazmat camera, 10,078, firelight skid mounted tank pump reel ensemble 8000 and a plum case for 7767. And finally number four resolution authorizing directly on behalf of the urban county government to execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky Department of Public and Public Safety Cabinet. And to provide any additional information requested in connection with this grant application with which grant funds are on the amount of $76,243 federal funds. And offer the continuation of the street sales drug enforcement project for fiscal year 2021. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. James Brown? Yes. Mr. Ellinger? Yes. Ms. Evans? Yes. Mr. Farmer? Yes. Ms. Lamb? Yes. Mr. Maloney? Yes. Ms. Plumman? Yes. Ms. Reynolds. Mr. Worley. Ms. Bledsoe. And Mr. Fred Brown. Thank you. That goes past unanimously. Next, we have, I believe, Commander Harris has three police disciplines for us. Welcome. Thank you, ma'am. Commander Jesse Harris, Lexington Police Department. I have three items to present. On January 15, 2020, an internal formal complaint was made that Officer Tanner Kirby, employee number 55455, violated General Order 1973-02J, Disciplinary Procedures, Appendix B, Operational Rule 1.02, which is misconduct. At the conclusion of the investigation, the employee met with Chief Lawrence Weathers and has accepted a written reprimand. Do I hear a motion? Councilmember Farmer moves and Councilmember Plumman seconds. Are there any questions? All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. All right. That is unanimous. Thank you very much. That passes. On January 15, 2020, an internal formal complaint was made that Officer Jonathan Haynes, employee number 56210, violated General Order 1973-02J, Disciplinary Procedures, Appendix B, Operational Rule 1.02, Misconduct. At the conclusion of the investigation, the employee met with Chief Lawrence B. Weathers and has accepted a written reprimand. Thank you. Council Member Farmer moved approval. Council Member Fred Brown seconded. Are there any questions. All those in favor, please raise your hand. That motion passes unanimously. Okay, here's the last one. On February the 4th, 2020, an internal formal complaint was made that Officer Christopher Flannery violated General Order 1973-02-J, Disciplinary Procedures of Sworn Officers, Operational Rule 1.13, Operation of Vehicles. At the conclusion of the investigation, the employee met with chief lawrence weathers and has accepted a written reprimand council member farmer moves approval council member fred brown seconded are there questions all those in favor please raise your hand all right that is unanimous thank you very much that passed thank you now council members it's time for announcements. Councilmember James Brown. Councilmember James Brown and then we'll have Councilmember Maloney. Thank you mayor. Just recently since since we've been in a state of emergency I've received phone calls and emails in regards to citizens and neighbors and renters being concerned about evictions during this time period. I've talked to the law department about it and they have informed me that it was kind of out of our jurisdiction and the evictions were a process that was in the court system but I thought it might be pertinent for us as city government and council members to weigh in on what our concerns are so they actually drafted a resolution and before I brought the resolution forward I called and talked to the Lexington Landlord Association and also the Greater Apartment Association and what I was reassured from the conversations I had with them as they were already working and talking with their members about working with folks during these trying times this is you know this is unprecedented what we're going through and the impact of it and how it's going to pan out for our whole community we have yet to see. But I was, from the conversations, I was, felt pretty comfortable about the efforts that they're taking and decided that it's not, you don't have to legislate folks to do the right things. And it sounds like that they're already doing that. So that was good news. So we don't have to bring that forward. And I appreciate being able to have a good conversation with them about the efforts that they're making and the things that they're doing and hopefully that quells some of the angst that exist out there in the community as far as evictions go. Let me also thank the employees for working during this trying time, the mayor and her staff for leading us and guiding us through this. Some of us, all of us don't have the opportunity to stay at home when you feel like you should, when you're scared and concerned about what's going on. So it takes a lot for folks to get up and come to work every day, especially our first responders and folks in the hospitals in the medical field, my wife being one of them. So just thank you to everybody that's doing their part to get us all through this. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Councilmember Maloney. I just kind of want to echo on what Councilmember Brown said on both things. I look at the eviction as it becomes a health issue. I worry about putting people out on the streets, and if we have enough time worrying about the homeless, we don't need to have more people out there in the numbers. The more we keep people isolated in a house as long as possible, the more I think it helps our mission to keep spreading this coronavirus. Now, back to the employees. As you all know, I'm a big supporter of the employees, and as I walk through this building, there's some areas that concerns me about the coronavirus, and I think I talked to your chief of staff about this. And I just want to – there's certain areas where there's four or five, six people sitting within three feet of each other in certain areas. So I have a vacant office up in my – if they need to stay here and we have to use them, they can use my office so they don't have to be three or four. And I think there's a lot of offices that are going to be vacant. if we have to have people safe. Now, I understand, now, Council Member Brown brought up the issue about this spring coming up. Yards are going to have to be cut, and we're going to have to continue cutting our properties that we own. So I see, plus most people who cut the yards are by themselves. I understand those kind of jobs. You want to be outside. I hope that we continue to keep this Luttonton safe. and beautiful at the same time but we also want to make sure those employees are being held i feel like i don't know how long this is going to be i think it's good when we come back hopefully we come back soon but i don't i'm not i don't want we don't know what's going to happen when we do come back i think not only america's going to change the state's going to change but this horseshoe is going to change drastically we're going to have to go back and maybe start areas that we have to worry about I mean there's going to be jobs that may not never be failed again there may be money may not come in here so we may have to start from scratch but I just want everybody to be a positive that we can stay home and I want our employees to be sure because I have been getting a lot of emails today and concerned about why some of these employees are still here now when they watch the governor the governor told everybody in their office in Frankfurt to get out of there. Don't be here if you have to. We will tell you if you have to. And they're getting a statement. They're wanting to know why they're here. I know you sent out a video yesterday. Some of the employees were not quite understanding what it meant. They don't know if they're going home or they're staying. So we just got to be more clear on what we do with our employees. but I do have an office, and I assume there's going to be a lot of office. If we have to have people here, I don't want them sharing. I'm looking out for their health issues. They go home to their family. The last thing they need to do is pick up something here and pass it on to their family. So if we have to keep them here, please, please isolate them, and I'll be glad to get my office up or anywhere. But I just think the employees are really concerned, and I hope we can continue daily to give them an update so they can be more clarified who stays and who doesn't that's what that's the message that I've been getting the last two days so I appreciate and all the employees help what they're doing and and I think we'll make it through this but it's gonna be a long ride thank you mayor thank you so I would like to address that and then ask CAO Hamilton to speak about it. First of all, thanks for the offer of your office. We may, just his office? Hi. Last week, I spoke with the CAO about distancing our employees, and we worked through the commissioners who worked through the directors and they have been through the entire government to see if we had any people who were not you know who were not six feet apart and we have worked on that and that to my knowledge is done we have for two weeks been working every day on our essential personnel list the commissioners were each asked to go through every single division and tell us who the essential personnel are who have to be here to run our government who cannot work from home and we got that list they have been working through that the IT folks with Aldona have been increasing our capability. We do not have the capability to send everyone home. And to your point today, I talked with the governor. We talk regularly. They have not sent everyone home. They have not. I asked him that point blank what they are doing. So they did not send everyone home and we are gradually moving people out to work remotely and we have the capability to have about 700 of our workers work remote so that's pretty good we have I don't know how long our list I've seen the list of essential personnel but I haven't counted it so we have systematically, intentionally planned every bit of this. We have talked about plans to keep the payment window at revenue open so that people who don't have a checking account or don't have a credit card can get in to make their payments on the mezzanine. We have tracked visitors every day. We went from about 200 or so a day down to six yesterday. Every bit of this is in our radar, and we have intentionally focused on it. And so I might ask CAO Hamilton if there are any other things you want to say to that, but we are being very intentional about this. You can't just do this at a moment's notice. It all takes planning so that everyone is calm and understands we have the plans, we're executing them, and so on. So if you don't mind to fill in any gaps that I've forgotten. I don't think there are any gaps really to fill in. I think you've done them all. the state what the state is doing is they are trying to rotate 50 percent to telecommute and then switch it the next week they are not sending people home and i think we have to be real clear about that that everybody is telecommuting or either working there so as you said we have done a lot of work to try to get in 700 people out of here on telecommuting is a major deal yes because if you look, that's really 50% because we've got public safety on the other side who's got to do a lot of other things, and we're trying to get people who can't, who have to work here, stay, and telecommute otherwise. Yes. Thank you. And then I see our CIO has come in. Do you want to speak at all to the technology part? Because Aldona has done a fabulous job with this. And you can. Good evening. We started to identify the people that absolutely have to work, are essential, and we did that already last week. But before I talk about specifically what we're doing now, last week already we did two things. Number one, we gave people the capability to get to their email from whatever device they have at home. So in other words, if for some reason they had to be home, they at least know what's being asked of them or what part of their job they can do. The second thing that we did for every employee is basically tell them how they can input their time. So those are the two things that every employee can do into PeopleSoft from whatever device they have. We are now going through the list because we have received additional lists from every commissioner about people that could work from home. We are putting them into an environment that is a cloud environment. So in other words, what we're doing is replicating what they have here at work in the cloud, and it's if they were here. We have to determine what device they have at home. We have to determine what their computer name is. We have to figure out what applications they might need. But as the mayor said and as Sally said, we already have over 700 people can do that. And in some cases, we're experimenting with how some of that works. We've sent some people home and said try out everything. Let us know if there are any issues. Because you've got to remember, some of them are doing from their home device. So we have to, first of all, be very careful that we preserve the cyber security. We do not want our environment compromised. Secondly, we've got to figure out, do they need special applications that they get to when they're at work and how they can get to them? So some people need Accela, some people might need something else. So that's the process that we're going through right now. And in addition, we're getting additional requests. For instance, some judges would like to interview people in the jail right now from a telephone, from a conferencing, rather than have them appear in person. So I think what is happening now, we're trying to go as fast as we can to accommodate as many people as we can and still preserve the cybersecurity of our network. Thank you very much, and thank you, CAO Hamilton, also. Did you have another question? I just want to thank you for giving an update on that. And I know that as the child care, this is the last week, there's going to be a lot of our employees. They're going to have to be here while their children are at home. So I just hear those complaints. But I do commend you for it. But I just wanted to give an option. As I walk through these certain spaces where people are sitting real close, I'm glad you're fixing that. But if you need my office or you need to spread them out to different offices, I'm here to help. I think that's what I'm looking at. I mean, I'm here to be positive. I'm not trying to. We appreciate that. We have a whole 12th floor that's empty. And Aldona has been able to do all of DES remotely, and so we're good. And if we keep on, we know which way we've got to go. We've also got to deal with the federal government just instituted new programs that are going to change everything that we're doing. And so this, and it has to be implemented by every government by April the 2nd. So that's our next huge task. Thank you very much. does that answer your question okay very good other announcements councilmember Ellinger thank you Mary and I was actually going to follow up with those two and I was gonna ask you to give that update and I appreciate that one other issue that with all this going on and there's so many balls in the airs right now trying to figure out what to do we're going through the budget process were you able to go through your the all your mayor's budget hearings and and because when we come back off a break we're going to have to be the council's going to get into that and how are we going to be able to get the revenue projections what what are we what what the budget hearings are all finished if you want to speak about where you are now we're working the budget yeah doing all this we've also done the budget we're not done the budget we're working on the the budget we held all of the budget hearings and at this particular point I've been working this week with the budget team to try to get to get to try to get things together we are concentrating first on this final quarter of this year we we have got to look at the revenue getting ready to go down for this quarter that the solving some issues in this quarter will will will go right into the next year's budget. And so we have all the intentions in the world of, we are going through the revenue, we have all the intentions in the world of meeting all the deadlines. We just hope we have somebody to talk to. That's right. Besides ourselves. Do you like that sound? It's brilliant. Right. Thank you. Thank you. Does that help? We've been working the coronavirus down one track and the budget down the other track, and everybody's working all day, every day on those kinds of things. And one issue we've never had to tap into, but I guess we're going to have to consider the rainy day fund at some point, because that would fall into this, I'm sure. Well, Sally can speak to that. Yes, and we haven't touched it yet, but I mean, it's right there. We will look at all of this, and we know that we'll have to advise on what we think we should do with the budget stabilization and with the Rainy Day Fund. We're far from those decisions, but we certainly are cognizant they're sitting there. And thank heavens they are. Two more minutes. I have two more issues. One, the jail, that's an issue I think that we have to be concerned about. Well, we've been concerned about it for a couple weeks. You know that as well as I do. Yes. So let me think. A couple weeks ago, I felt that one of our most serious potential issues was at the jail because, as you know, people live in groups. And so I closed down visitation at the jail actually before the state mandated it, a couple days before, because we realized that people could be bringing it in there, and all we need is one case there. So we did that early, closed it to visitation, and the inmates get an extra phone call that they didn't have before so that they can have some connectivity with family. And then the next thing that we did was, I think it was next in line, was look at how many prisoners we have who are almost finished with their sentence, who are very close to release, who are nonviolent, did not have a victim involved, and I blanked on the third one. And so it was a very select group, and we consulted with Commonwealth Attorney Lou Anna Redcorn and County Attorney Larry Roberts and had the conversations with them, and they were okay. They thought it was a good idea to move some of these folks out, and got some conversations then going with the judges, because that's a judge decision. And some of them will go to ankle monitors. Some won't. I mean, some of these people have five days left or ten days left. And so it was vetted everywhere and felt to be deemed the correct thing because it would take people out who are almost finished anyway, and it would lessen the groups, the numbers. And, of course, you know our numbers are down below our capacity anyway. We've worked real hard on that. And so that's kind of where we are right now. Do you think of something else? I think there's one just really good example that shows what's happening is they are taking out there, when somebody's brought in, they're taking their temperature. And there was somebody that was brought in that's temperature was high, and they immediately, they didn't accept that person and had to move that person over to get care. They took them. But that shows the thought process of at least making sure that if you've got one of those symptoms, they didn't put it into a large group. And they also have instituted screening every employee. Yes. They've closed the entrances so that all employees enter one place each day or each shift. They're all screened for fever, any symptoms, before they ever go in. so we've uh implemented a lot of different things out there thank you mayor for that update did you have another question well the the last one my time's up but um the last one i see charlie out there and i don't see polly but i with a homeless issue and people who are living in shelters and what where do we stand on that because that's i think that's another big concern that yeah i just i'm trying to get out to the i think she's i'm just trying to get out to the public because i think these are some big issues that we're we have to be concerned about and i didn't didn't polly send you all the update in an email okay good that's what i was going to suggest is polly's been sending daily updates um i know she's coordinating she's having a call every morning with all the shelters to make sure not only are they coordinating on health supplies and keeping everyone safe in terms of the folks in the shelters but also figuring out what their needs are and then coordinating that so that's yes and they're screening people yes fever the same screening that we're doing with other folks so that that was also a major concern and so um we we are if there are any other questions about what we're doing we're happy to share all of those um we are pretty much focused on this every hour of every day every minute of every day and we'll continue to be every morning i meet with my senior leadership team which includes all commissioners and we vet through every single issue that anyone has thought of and we discuss new things that have come up and new mandates and how we're you know meeting those and uh so we're we're working real hard on it did you have a question council member fredbrand on that council member and the budget chair you know it's down the line but we've got the links that we're dealing with and we're going to deal with and it's going to take time and effort from all the commissioners and directors and i think i just wanted to throw it out we need to get some serious thoughts on what we're going to do if we're going to even with all the circumstances if we need to even have our links going forward for this budget well if did you want to say something and then this is something i was going to say in my own announcements but you're the the next council meeting is april 9th and that is what is that about three weeks away there is a very great possibility the meeting won't be able to be held we have been listening to all of the health experts dr. Humboldt dr. stack my concern is we may very well still be closed to meetings gatherings and so we'll have to we just need to see what the situation is then and we've talked about what if the 28th comes when I'm supposed to give you my budget address and we still cannot gather with the group because we will be down to essential personnel probably and no group gatherings I mean this is just to think about the possibilities and you know this is we are we are operating under different rules right now anyway the whole universe is basically and so I would certainly want to consult with some of you we if the governor is still not allowing any gatherings we won't be able to gather. So we'll need your input and how we proceed forward. You know, it's a different time. And none of us, the issue is none of us, you know, usually with everything we have dates and goals and we know right what we're working toward, right? We don't have any idea. And And so we're trying to be flexible and get as much information as we can every day and have plans. We have all kinds of plans going forward for many scenarios. This one we don't yet have. I mean, the fact of the matter is I think meetings could just simply be canceled. and we'll need to figure out how to go forward because we have to have a budget you know yes council member blitz i appreciate all your comments first because i think these are unprecedented times and i think we're all playing from being mindful of the wisdom of the governor and other giving guidelines and yet all taking the responsibilities that we've all had to be elected and give input on the budget and the process and things that are important to our constituents as well as to the city so i would just be mindful that as we go through this process that our our role is somehow protected and still utilized in some fashion and maybe that is conference i don't know how we can do video conference calls by then maybe if those links where we could do it four or five of us at a time while still meeting open meeting requests i'm just offering out we could start thinking about that in the next three to four weeks that if we have to move to links being on conference calls or video conference calls we can still have those potentially as long as they're recorded in some form or fashion um just thoughts as we move forward we do have a little bit of time and i just would be first off completely mindful and appreciative of your leadership and being the senior executive in the time of crisis so there's a reason you have emergency powers and we want you to exercise I also mindful of our own role so that's the only thing that I'm going out there CAO has did you want to wait to get back on I just wanted to add in here to that I know that I've been watching through Kentucky League of cities and I think there is some technology. I don't think we are ready for it yet. I think that we need to have many conversations and learn about this because we're such a bigger body, but I do think that for smaller groups there is an opportunity for video conferencing and I would be willing to offer myself and my aid to help and assist. I'm sure that you all are already talking about it and have already looked into it legally and all that, but I'm willing to help with that over this course of time because I do think that it is going to be something that we're going to have to utilize in some form or fashion is the way it keeps up. Do you want to speak to? I think you will find when you see this budget that it's much bigger than the links process. It's not going to be the kind of budget that you have to have the directors in there to talk about, well, I really need to do this road or I really need to do this. We are going to be talking about major policy issues, the things that a council, the mayor and a council is elected to do. It's going to be dramatic. and it's and i don't mean i think when you see it you'll see what we're talking about i think you're right and i think what i'm what i'm trying to say is i don't i'm not sure the links is maybe the best process for that but the philosophical conversation about what we're going to find and why absolutely needs our input that's right and that's and that's what i was saying i think it is my only more than more than a link it is this type of thing it's it's going to be major policy issues. And we totally agree. I mean, we have talked about this very thing. And the fact of the matter is, and I'm looking at our CIO, we do not have the capability to video teleconference a council meeting. That is the fact of the matter. And if we are still under a mandate not to have groups and we cannot open and have an open meeting, that's a whole other issue. I know that the legislature closed to the public and is still meeting, and they have been highly criticized for closing. That's why we did this, so we could stay open to the public for this meeting. So it's a lot of moving parts, and we just come April, beginning of April we need to see what parts are where and conference with you all and I totally agree with CAO Hamilton this will not be a budget that is one where we're discussing oh well we maybe ought to do this or that this is a budget where our fourth quarter of revenues which has not yet come in, will be coming in from an economy where many, many businesses have closed. Many employees have been laid off. You all know that two of our top four revenue sources are net profits and payroll tax, and we expect a huge drop. I'm not talking about $500,000, And you know this. We don't quite have a handle on it yet because we need to keep moving through and seeing the numbers. So this is going to be a very different conversation. But we can do this, you know. We will do this. And it will be, it probably will be pretty painful, I think. but I'm optimistic that we can get to a good place together, that we will have a budget that works, and then, you know, the new budget will be another, a whole other issue. And the Economic Contingency Fund, I've always been, you know, one of the ones that was always for putting more money in it. We've been there fighting that battle and building it up so that it could be healthy for a real economic emergency. I don't believe we will see this kind of emergency maybe ever again. We don't know. But we're willing to think about put everything in the mix and we'll make it work. It will work. We know this, you know. and this is not like the recession in 08. So I will consult you. I want us to be together in this. The fact of the matter is we do not know yet whether we will still be able to meet, so we just got to keep the eye on everything, and, you know, we'll get there. and so it will work now what other questions oh council member Reynolds council member lamb and then council member Maloney is this on thank you mayor first I just want to say I've been so impressed with how the mayoral staff and everybody's been working around the clock to serve our community so I'm just want to say thank you to each of you uh i think to echo some of what um council member bledsoe is saying in addition to the budget process and keeping us informed on that uh and i know you all have a million things you're doing but as much as you can keep us in the loop now this is going to be a lot of us will be remote uh we won't be here uh we won't be talking to each other you know frequently or anything like that, sometimes, you know, we get a lot of questions coming our way. A lot of us have been working many hours as well since this started to unfold, and the best way that we can serve the community from our perspective is to have a lot of knowledge and know what's going on. So the health department has been amazing at answering questions for me, and everybody's been great. But if there's any updates or things that are important that are coming up, any emails, any correspondence you can have with each one of us would be greatly appreciated. We will certainly, we will do that. Thank you. Council Member Lamb. Thank you, Mayor. I just, you know, this is just crazy time, unprecedented. So I want to reiterate what I was talking about on Tuesday, and I think it was in the paper today. Amazon is hiring 100,000 people. I know Kroger is hiring 500 part-time. I believe that's more in the Louisville area. However, it is. They're 500 part-time. And, again, Sarah Christian Village is hiring multiple various positions, and I believe all that is on the Kentucky.com from this morning's article. And the other thing is, and this seems so silly to even ask this, but we still get calls from our constituents about code enforcement issues. And so I guess my question is, is I have been hesitant to email anybody with something that seems to be pretty minuscule compared to what we're going through, but yet it's still important. And so I thought I would just ask the question and allow you all to speak to that. The code is still working full strength, and they're working remotely. That's right. So don't hesitate to contact them. They're all in, and they're working all remotely. Yes, I appreciate that. I appreciate it. So send them your e-mails. All righty. Well, there are still issues going on. And I do appreciate what we've been doing locally, but I really appreciate, too, what our governor's doing. and I have really made it a ritual daily to listen to his press conferences because he's speaking. I know we've been doing a good job locally, but he's speaking for our entire state, and I think that the information that he has provided is just great. And, I mean, those are the updates that I look to because they encompass everybody. And so I just want everybody to, again, stay calm, and we're going to get through this. I drove through town this morning going back to check on my mom, and it was such a strange drive through town. The streets are rolled up, but everybody's out walking. They're walking with their children. They're walking with their dogs. And, you know, that's really cool. It's not that I'd love that we're having to do this, but it's a time where family needs to come first. And I see that a number of people, they're doing that. And I think that when we do come out of this, I think we're going to have a much stronger community. And it's sad that it takes this to get us there, but we're going to be all right. So thank you. We will be. Thank you for that. And also I wanted to mention, you know, you asked about code. So our golf courses are still open. If you get a cart, you can only be one person in a cart. They don't take the flagpoles out. You don't touch them. And when the cart's turned in, they scrub them down. I mean, they've done, our government has done so much good to reinvent itself on how to do this and not cut out services. And it's to their credit, all of our employees, because they've been thinking creatively in terms of how to keep things open but distance people and provide the services. so it's all it really has there's a lot of good come out of this so council member maloney i'm glad to hear that because my golf game will get better they'll give me give me instead of picking up the ball near the hole so i get to give me my score will be down so that's good glad but on a serious note i think we're going to get good news next week if there's anything the tests are going to come here and as i watch all over the country how the tests were lined lined up and going real far around and all that. And we did a tremendous job for the Breeders' Cup five years ago on our traffic problems. I just think I want everybody, I want to see how we can make sure our traffic patterns are taken care of because I guarantee you once we, Luskenson, start getting these tests, the majority of the people who've been calling me are going to be happy because they'll be able to take this test, but they're going to have to be sick, and that's the fear that a lot of people won't be sick, and it's going to be people in those traffic jams that are going to have to be told that. So I'm just wondering if we've got the police and everybody ready for traffic because it's going to line up. And if you go look at places that have been lined up for six to eight hours and blocking up the interstates in some place across the country. And to me I think once these tests start coming here, I think people will be more relaxed a little bit. And there will be a little bit more pressure off is the number one thing that they want to know. At least they have a place to go get a test then. But I'm worried about the traffic pattern, how people can get in and out and how we can keep our constituents and our police that let us know what and when and how. And my biggest fear is we're going to have a lot of people on those lines that are not sick. They're going to back up and cause a lot of problems. So just to me, I think we need to work with the doctor's office. And I assume you've already been doing that. But to me, that's going to be good news to a lot of our constituents once we find out that we can have a test. So there's a lot involved. They cannot do any testing if they do not have the PPE, the personal protective equipment. And the protocol is everyone doesn't get tested. You must have a fever, a cough, and difficulty breathing, or, you know, there's a combination that they use. And we have been working with the governor's office. We've been working with Dr. Humball. And we've been working with some other entities about testing. The fact of the matter is we don't have increased testing kits or PPE right now that would serve us well. And we are planning, but we cannot just get this up and running because we suddenly get test kits. We have to have every single piece in place and then the people to operate it. And so we've been working really since last week on this. And do you want to add anything? Yeah, we've been working on identifying sites. We've been working on everything we need to do so that when we get the okay that we have test kits and we have PPE, we can go forward. so um we uh the one one of the really great things is that we have a wonderful relationship with the state and dr steve stack if you do not know him already is fabulous he is the right person in the right place at this time and so we're we are working on all of this and we've got you know, potential plans that are falling into place if we can just get the test kits and the PPE. So what else? What other questions or announcements? There's nothing going on much, so there's not any events to announce, right? Anything else? I did want to, I sent you this today, but I misspoke on Tuesday about the number of days, and you all know that I will be appointing a council member by April 3rd. And the charter then says the council may, within 15 days of such appointment, disapprove the appointment. You do not have to ratify it. And it's a disapproval would have to be by two-thirds of the members, which is 10. So we're going to keep our eye on this closely because we'll need to be in touch with you all when I make an appointment that you understand whether, you know, I would send information to you and everything you need to know, and then I need to understand whether you want to have that sort of vote because we won't be in session unless on the 9th we're cleared to go. Does that make sense? We're just taking this a day at a time, planning and being intentional. And I did email you that. Let me end up in just a minute. Are you going to plan on your 2 o'clock announcements or whatever conference every day? or have you thought about that? What time is it tomorrow? Do you remember? We have one tomorrow and I've sort of... I don't think you would do it every day. No, not every day, but I... And I apologize. Let me see if it's on my calendar. I, for one, some of us can make it, some of those, and just to kind of give you support and be around. Tomorrow... Well, I do not know what time it is. Can you ask Susan? We haven't really needed to have one every day, but we felt that it was important to have them on the days when there's something different to report. And so I want to thank the council members who have been attending, and we try to get that out ahead. Sometimes we're running with our tongues hanging out, so we'll be sure you get that. 2 p.m. tomorrow. And we hold them all. Pardon me? I like the consistency. You know, the same time that everybody can kind of be tuned in. And now we're holding them up here so that we spread out. And it worked pretty well, I thought, today. And we don't have a big crowd up there. And nobody touches anymore. You know, there's nothing going on. So 2 o'clock tomorrow up here. And okay. What else? Well, I just want to say before announcements are over that I do want you all to stay safe, healthy, and for all of our constituents. You know, we're moving through this very calmly and intentionally and doing lots of planning for our citizens. I know some people are on edge, and it's difficult when you don't know when the end is of this whole thing, but we'll get there. so with that do we have anyone for public comment no all right well stay safe yes all those in favor of adjournment raise your hand that passes unanimously thank you have a good break I'm sorry.