# Urban County Council - June 18, 2020 > Auto-transcribed civic record · June 18, 2020 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/5158 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/5158?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2020-06-18 - **Last revised**: June 18, 2020 - **Length**: 12,755 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 virtually on June 18, 2020, at 6:28 PM with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The council addressed four main agenda items during the meeting, focusing on the legislative process with both first and second readings of ordinances and resolutions. The council took a total of 5 votes throughout the meeting, successfully advancing several pieces of legislation through the approval process. Second reading items for both ordinances and resolutions were approved, while first reading items for ordinances and resolutions were formally introduced and will proceed to future meetings for final consideration. No public comments were heard during this virtual session, allowing the council to focus primarily on their legislative agenda and voting procedures. ## Attendance The following members were present at the June 18, 2020 meeting: **Present (13 members):** • Moloney • Mossotti • Reynolds • Swanson • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Evans • Farmer • Kay • Lamb • McCurn **Absent (2 members):** • Plomin • Worley **Late:** • None A total of 13 members were present for the meeting, with 2 members absent. No members arrived late to the proceedings. ## Votes and Decisions The council took action on five items during the meeting, with all measures passing unanimously. **Ordinance 0568-20** [timestamp: 02:00] - Amending certain budgets for municipal expenditures, Schedule No. 52, was motioned by Farmer and seconded by Ellinger. The ordinance passed by roll call vote 13-0, with all council members voting in favor: Moloney, Mossotti, Reynolds, Swanson, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Kay, Lamb, and McCurn. **Ordinance 0569-20** [timestamp: 02:00] - Amending budgets for funds in the amount of $200 for a new gate at Brighton Trail, Schedule No. 53, was also motioned by Farmer and seconded by Ellinger. This measure passed unanimously 13-0 by roll call vote, with the same council members voting in favor. **Ordinance 0615-20** [timestamp: 03:00] - Amending and restating Ordinance No. 42-2020 for expanded restaurant and retail business uses, was motioned by J. Brown and seconded by Bledsoe. The ordinance passed by roll call vote 13-0, with all council members supporting the measure. **Resolution 0547-20** [timestamp: 04:00] - Accepting the bid of Applegate Inspection Service for Asbestos Project Monitoring, was motioned by Farmer and seconded by Ellinger. The resolution passed unanimously 13-0 by roll call vote. **Resolution 0601-20** [timestamp: 06:00] - Condemning racism and injustice, was motioned by Farmer and seconded by Mossotti. This resolution passed unanimously with all 13 council members voting in favor. All votes demonstrated complete unity among the council members, with no opposition or abstentions recorded on any of the five items considered. ## Budget and Financial Actions The meeting addressed several significant financial items totaling over $11 million in expenditures, grants, and allocations. **Technology Infrastructure** Resolution 0439-20 authorized a contract with Dell Financial Services for $81,249.84 to replace current firewalls and software licensing, addressing critical cybersecurity infrastructure needs. **Federal Grant Applications** Resolution 0490-20 approved submission of the 2020 Consolidated Plan/Grant Application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for $4,781,537 in federal funding. **Utility Infrastructure Agreements** Resolution 0498-20 established an agreement with Jessamine South Elkhorn Water District and RBC, LLC regarding sanitary sewer conveyance and treatment capacity. No specific dollar amount was disclosed for this infrastructure partnership. **Wastewater Treatment Improvements** Resolution 0499-20 approved a change order with Judy Construction Co. for $22,405.00 related to West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant improvements, representing modifications to an existing construction project. **Senior Services Contract Amendment** Resolution 0519-20 authorized an amendment with Bluegrass Area Development District, Inc. for $92,682.59 to continue operation of the Senior Citizens Center, ensuring continued services for elderly residents. **CARES Act Funding Allocation** Resolution 0549-20 allocated $6,400,000 in reimbursement funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, representing the largest single financial action of the meeting. This federal funding was designated to address COVID-19 related expenses and economic impacts. The financial actions encompassed critical infrastructure upgrades, federal grant applications, utility partnerships, construction modifications, social services, and pandemic relief funding, demonstrating the breadth of municipal financial responsibilities during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. ## Appointments The meeting included two personnel appointments to city positions. **Benjamin Cotton** was appointed to serve as Laboratory Technician in the Division of Water Quality. **Michael Vaught** was appointed to the position of Fleet Operations Manager in the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management. Both appointments were approved during the meeting proceedings. ## Contested Items The June 18, 2020 meeting featured two primary areas of contention that generated significant discussion among council members. **Public Comment Management** The council faced a procedural dispute regarding the handling of public comments during meetings. Due to inappropriate comments made during a previous meeting, the decision was made to suspend public comment for this session while the council worked to develop a better management solution. This represented a departure from normal meeting procedures and highlighted ongoing challenges with maintaining decorum during public participation portions of meetings. **Racism and Injustice Resolution** The most significant contested item involved a heated discussion about the council's response to racism and injustice. Multiple council members engaged in debate about the importance of condemning racism and injustice, with several members making formal statements on the issue. This discussion reflected broader national conversations taking place during this time period and demonstrated varying perspectives among council members about the appropriate municipal response to social justice concerns. The nature of this discussion was characterized as a "heated discussion," indicating that council members held differing views on how the municipality should address these issues. The debate involved several council members making individual statements, suggesting that there was not immediate consensus on the appropriate course of action or language to use in any potential resolution. Both contested items reflected broader challenges facing local governments during this period - balancing public participation with meeting management needs, and responding to community concerns about social justice issues while maintaining municipal focus and unity among elected officials. *Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available in the provided data for this meeting.* ## Ordinances – Second Reading [timestamp: 02:00] The council conducted second readings of ordinances related to municipal budget amendments and fund appropriations. The discussion was led by key speakers Farmer and Ellinger, who presented the ordinances for final consideration. The ordinances under review involved amendments to existing municipal budgets for various expenditures and the appropriation of funds to support these budget modifications. As second readings, these ordinances had previously been introduced and reviewed by the council in an earlier meeting. During the proceedings, Farmer and Ellinger provided details on the specific budget amendments and appropriations contained within the ordinances. The discussion focused on the municipal expenditures that would be affected by these budget changes and the funding mechanisms proposed to support the appropriations. The council reviewed the ordinances without significant debate or concerns raised during this second reading phase. Following the presentation and discussion, the ordinances were approved by the council, completing the required legislative process for these budget-related measures. The approval of these ordinances allows the municipality to proceed with the amended budget allocations and utilize the appropriated funds for the specified municipal expenditures as outlined in the legislation. ## Ordinances – First Reading [timestamp: 03:00] The council conducted first readings of several ordinances during this agenda item, with J. Brown and Bledsoe serving as key speakers for the presentations. The ordinances addressed two primary areas of municipal business: • **Budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2021** - These proposed changes to the city's budget allocations for the upcoming fiscal year • **Extensions of deadlines for expanded business uses** - Modifications to existing timelines that would allow businesses additional time to implement expanded operations During the first reading process, the ordinances were formally introduced to the council. As is standard procedure for first readings, the items were presented without extensive debate or voting, allowing council members to review the proposed legislation before more detailed discussion at subsequent meetings. The first reading represents the initial step in the city's legislative process, where ordinances are formally introduced and made available for public review. These particular ordinances will advance to second reading at a future council meeting, where more comprehensive discussion and potential amendments may occur before final consideration. No immediate action was required or taken on these ordinances during the first reading, as the process allows time for council members and the public to examine the proposed changes to budget allocations and business use deadlines before final deliberation and voting. ## Resolutions – Second Reading [timestamp: 04:00] The council conducted second reading of multiple resolutions during this agenda item. Key speakers included Farmer and Ellinger, who presented the various resolutions for final consideration. The resolutions covered several administrative and operational matters: • Accepting bids for municipal projects or services • Ratifying appointments to boards, commissions, or positions • Authorizing agreements with contractors, vendors, or other entities During the discussion, council members reviewed the details of each resolution that had previously received first reading approval. The second reading process allows for final review and any last-minute questions or concerns before formal adoption. Farmer and Ellinger guided the council through the resolutions, providing necessary context and addressing any procedural questions. The discussion appeared to focus on ensuring all proper procedures had been followed and that the resolutions were ready for final approval. Following the presentation and discussion, the council voted to approve the resolutions on second reading. This approval represents the final step in the legislative process for these items, making them officially adopted by the municipality. The successful completion of second reading for these resolutions allows the accepted bids to move forward, confirms the ratified appointments, and authorizes the execution of the approved agreements. These administrative actions support the ongoing operations and governance of the municipality. ## Resolutions – First Reading [timestamp: 05:00] The council conducted first readings of several resolutions related to accepting bids and authorizing agreements for various municipal projects. Farmer served as the key speaker presenting these items to the council. The resolutions presented during this agenda item involved the acceptance of bids for different city projects and the authorization of related agreements. As part of the standard legislative process, these items were presented for their initial review, with formal action to be taken at a subsequent meeting following the required waiting period. During first reading, resolutions are typically presented without extensive debate, allowing council members to review the proposed actions before voting at a later meeting. This procedural step ensures transparency and provides time for public input and council deliberation on the proposed contracts and agreements. The specific projects and bid amounts were outlined in the resolution documents, though detailed discussion of individual items was limited during this preliminary presentation phase. The first reading process allows the community and council members to examine the proposed expenditures and contractual commitments before final approval. Following standard municipal procedures, these resolutions will return to the council for second reading and potential adoption at a future meeting, at which time more detailed discussion and formal voting will occur. --- ## Decisions - **Ordinance 0568-20** — passed (13-0): Amending certain budgets for municipal expenditures, Schedule No. 52 - **Ordinance 0569-20** — passed (13-0): Amending budgets for funds in the amount of $200 for a new gate at Brighton Trail, Schedule No. 53 - **Ordinance 0615-20** — passed (13-0): Amending and restating Ordinance No. 42-2020 for expanded restaurant and retail business uses - **Resolution 0547-20** — passed (13-0): Accepting the bid of Applegate Inspection Service for Asbestos Project Monitoring - **Resolution 0601-20** — passed (13-0): Condemning racism and injustice --- ## Full transcript Thank you. Go ahead, Vice Mayor. Go ahead, Mayor. All righty. Thank you. I'd like to go ahead and call to order the council meeting of June 18, 2020. And I would like to read the following statement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local state of emergency and Governor Beshear's executive orders regarding social distancing, this meeting of the urban county council is being held via video teleconference pursuant to senate bill 150 as signed by the governor on march 30th 2020 and attorney general opinion 2005 and in accordance with krs 61.826 because it is not feasible to offer a primary physical location for the meeting. Thank you very much. And now if the clerk would please call the roll. Mr. Maloney? Yes, ma'am. Mrs. Sadi? Here. Ms. Bloming? Bloming? Ms. Reynolds? Here. Mr. Swanson? Here. Mr. Worley? Ms. Bledsoe? Yes, ma'am. Mr. Fred Brown? Here. Mr. James Brown? Here. Mr. Ellinger? Yes, ma'am. Ms. Evans? here yes ma'am vice mayor here miss lamb here mr mccurray yes ma'am thank you thank you at this time i'd like to welcome council member angela evans who's going to give our invocation. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Let us pray. Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving spirit may so move every human heart, that the barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatred cease, and that with our divisions healed, we might live in justice and peace. Help us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness and justice with order, and that men and women from various cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of friendships, and show us your presence in those who differ most from us until our knowledge of your love is made perfect and our love for all of your children. And Jesus Christ, you have ordered us to live as loving neighbors, though we are scattered in different places, speak different words, or descend from different races. Give us common concern that we may be one people who share the governing of the world under your guiding purpose. May greed, war, and lust for power be curbed, and all people enter the community of love promised in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Thank you very much. Council members, I wanted to talk with you just a moment before we have our second readings. Um, we have had, um, based on what happened at last night's council committee of the whole, we have had, um, IT and law as well as LexTV, uh, working on a different way to manage public comment. so that it could be managed in a better way so that we have public comment to the issues. And so I know that we have three people on the public comment, but I believe Vice Mayor Kay sent around an email to you about deleting public comment from tonight's meeting until we can have a way to manage it better. And we would encourage people for tonight's meeting to email us, to give us their comments. So I will ask Vice Mayor Kay if he would go ahead and make the motion and then of course we'll have discussion. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to reiterate that council in their conversations about what to do about this are really keenly aware that we don't want to have any possibility of a repeat of what happened yesterday. We want public comment as much as possible and we are working to make sure that that will be possible going forward. But for this particular meeting tonight, we find that we can't be fully assured that we have the protection that we need. So I will make the motion. I move to suspend the rules and cancel public comment for tonight's meeting. So move. Second. I believe Councilmember Farmer seconded that. Now, is there discussion? If you'll raise your blue hand if you want to discuss the motion. Councilmember Susan Lamb. Nope. Yes, Councilmember Lamb. Thank you, Mayor. I do think that this is the right thing in light of what happened last night. I do think it's the right thing to do until we can make sure that we can control what impacts not just us that are on this meeting and those of you all who were on it last night, but for our community as a whole. I think this is the wise thing to do, and I do appreciate the tenet of the motion. Thank you. Thank you. Is there other comment on the motion? all right i see none will you please raise your hand if you are in favor of the motion all right that is a unanimous yes vote thank you very much and i would encourage the public if they have comment for tonight to please email us our email addresses are all at lexingtonky.com Thank you very much. Now I'll ask the clerk to please go ahead and give second reading to ordinances. Ordinance number one, an ordinance amending certain of the budget of the urban county government to reflect current requirements from municipal expenditures and appropriating and re-eppropriating funds number 52. And item number two, an ordinance amending certain of the budget of the urban county government to reflect current requirements for funds in the amount of $200 to provide funds for council projects in the division of streets and roads to assist with purchase and installation of a new gate at Brighton Trail and appropriating and reprogramming funds to schedule number 53. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? I'll move. Second. All right. Councilmember Farmer moved approval. Councilmember Ellinger seconded. um will you please see where'd you go take a roll call vote mr worley yes all right mr maloney yes miss massadi yes miss reynolds yes Mr. Swanson yes Ms. Bledsoe yes ma'am Mr. Fred Brown yes Mr. Kansley yes Mr. Ellinger yes ma'am Mr. Devin yes Mr. Kansley yes ma'am Vice Mayor Pat? Yes. Ms. Lamb? Yes, ma'am. And Mr. McCurron? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you very much. Those all passed unanimously. Does everybody have their themselves muted? We seem to be getting a lot of extra. Extra. This is Council Member Plowman. And since my video doesn't work, then I guess I will not be able to vote. Oh, are we sure, Chris, are we sure we can't get Council Member Plowman in? We've tried working with the computer several times in the last few days. We've had some issues with it. We're going to continue to work on it. So she does have video problems this evening. um hmm well we could have you voice vote the public won't be able to see it is i can't raise my my blue hand you can or can't i can mayor the public can't see that mayor gorton i believe that per the law department in order to be counted as voting you have to be seen and heard and part of the quorum as well well hmm um okay so uh chris and stacy is there nothing we can do unfortunately mayor no we've i've been working with councilmember plowman for a few days now and we we don't know what the issue is uh with her computer uh but we continue to work on it. Council Member Plumman, are you able to get on your phone? I am trying to do that. I was able to get I'll keep trying on that, Mayor. Okay. All right. Thank you. I'm very sorry. Okay. Thank you. All right. Now, so I think we're ready for first reading of ordinances. Is that correct? Ordinance number three, an ordinance amending certain of the budgets of the listening to the urban county government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriating and reappropriating funds to school year 2021, schedule number one. And item four, an ordinance amending and stating ordinance number 42-2020, which pertains to the suspension of certain ordinances to allow for expanded restaurant and retail business uses to extend the deadline from September 8, 2020 to include bars and to include additional definitions and clarifications effective upon passage of counsel. Thank you. Council members, do you have any walk-ons? If you do, please raise your blue hand. Okay. Are there any suspensions for second reading? Council Member James Brown. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to suspend the rules and give second reading to number four. It's the ordinance that pertains to the restaurants. So move. Second. Second. All right. Council Member Bledsoe seconded that. Is there any discussion? All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Let's see. That is a unanimous yes vote. All right. Are there any other suspensions? I don't think the other one can be suspended. It's got a schedule with it. So if the, when you're ready, um madam clerk if you'll please uh give second reading to number four i'm sorry you need to unmute yourself all right item four in ordinance amending and restating ordinance number 42 2020 which pertains to the suspension of certain ordinances to allow for expanded restaurant and retail business uses to extend the deadline through September 8, 2020 to include bars and to include additional definitions and clarifications effective upon passage of council. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Council Member Lamb moved and I'm sorry I didn't see who said. Council member Brown seconded. All right. Will you please take a roll call vote? Mr. Maloney? Yes. Does that work? I'm not muted. Yes. Thank you. Ms. Massadi? Yes. Thank you. Ms. Reynolds? Yes. Mr. Swanson? Yes. Ms. Swanson? Yes. Ms. Swanson? Yes, ma'am. Is that me? Yes. Yes, Ms. Swanson. Thank you. Mr. Fred Brown? Yes. Mr. James Brown? Yes. Mr. James Brown? Yes. Mr. James Brown? Yes. Yes. Mr. Ellinger? Yes, ma'am. Ms. Evans? Yes. Mr. Farmer? Yes, ma'am. Yes. Ms. Lamb? Yes, ma'am. And Mr. McCurn? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you very much. That passed. We're trying to get Kathy to vote too. Was that the echo? I think that was. We're having trouble with Kathy Mew on her end. Say it again, Kathy. Madam Clerk, can you see her when she raises her hand? Ms. No, I cannot see Kathy Clements. Oh, but it was the roll call vote. So can you call her for her vote? Ms. Clements? Yes. I can just... It went over here, guys. I'm so sorry. Council Member McCurney, you tried really hard. I have. Thank you, Council Member McCurney. Yes, ma'am. I'll sit in there and listen. Okay. Sorry everybody. Sorry, you tried. All right, that passed. Now it's time for a second reading of resolutions. Item number one, a resolution accepting the bid of Applegate Inspection Services establishing a price contract for as best as project monitoring to the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management. Item 2, a resolution ratifying the permanent civil service appointments of Benjamin Cotton, Laboratory, Technician, Grade 513N, 17.717, Hourly, Division of Water Quality, 1111. And Michael Roth, Fleet Operations Manager, Grade 521E, 2515.39 bi-weekly, and the Division of Facilities and Fleet Manicament, effective May 25, 2020, and ratifying the classified civil service council lead of Kevin Binder, staff assistant grade 508 in 18.160 hourly in the division of family services effective june 17 2020 through september 14 2020 item three a resolution authorizing the mayor on behalf of the european county government to execute this agreement with dell financial services for replacement of current firewalls and software licensing at a cost that would exceed 81 249 and 84 annually item four a resolution authorizing directing the mayor on behalf of the european government to execute and submit a 2020 consolidated plan grant application to the united states department of housing and urban development to provide any additional information requesting a connection to this grant application and to accept the grant if the application is approved grant funds are in the amount of 4 million 781 537 dollars in federal funds and after the fiscal year 2021 community grant block grants program 2 million 427 000 120 home program 1 million 316 746 and emergency solutions grant program 206 186 dollars the acceptance of of which obligates the urban county government to the expenditure of $360,665 from various funding sources as a local match and $143,121 as an in-kind match and authorized in the area to execute agreements for the approved plan and authorized in the area to transfer to the undercomer funds within the grant budget. Item 5. A resolution offers on the on-behaving county government to execute a site-specific agreement with jessamine south alphorn water district and rbc also provide sanitary sewer conveyance and treatment capacity to the reserve at kate's creek unit 2 uh development in jessamine county item 6. a resolution operating on behalf of every county government to execute change order number two to degree construction for the west hickman wastewater treatment plant final to clarifiers number seven number eight improvement project increasing the contract price by the sum of 22 405 dollars from 1 million 698 735 dollars and 25 cents to 1 million 721 104 40.75 item 7 a resolution authorizing and drifting in behalf of your mechanic government execute amendment number 3b to the grant agreement with the bluegrass area development district incorporated to incorporate a 95 680 59 increase in federal funding from the cares act for the operation of the senior senior citizen center in fiscal year 2020. Item 8. A resolution authorized and understated the Department of Finance to allocate an amount equal to the initial $6,400,000 of reimbursement funds received from the Department of Local Government under the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Securities Act to the Urban County Government, including to designation fund ordinance number 50-2016 upon receipt of said funds and taking any and taking of any necessary additional budgetary actions with any subsequent withdrawal and use requiring further action and authorizing the allocation of an equal or an amount equal to any additional funds received into the general fund budget stabilization reserve with the council to discuss potential uses of these reserves reserve fund on at least a quarter of a basis item item number nine a resolution authorizing the government to execute purchase of service agreement for the building institute of central kentucky 50 000 the community action action council of fayette bourbon harrison and nicholas county's incorporated 50 000. jubilee jobs of lexington incorporated 40 000. lexington rescue mission incorporated 30 000 and executive refugee ministry incorporated 30 000 to support workforce development and across the state 200 000 for fiscal year 2021 with renewal subjects to each organization's performance in the budget and the budgeting of sufficient funds and fees for fiscal years Item 10. services for the Fayette County Police Office and authorizing the mayor or visiting on behalf of the government to execute any necessary price contract with Park Enterprises Incorporated related to procurement of business services with a payment up to $92,500 through 2021 upon approval of the budget. Item 12. A resolution approving the granting of an inducement to summit the Biosciences Incorporated or its successor affiliate pursuant to the Kentucky Business Investment Act KRS Subchapter 154.32, whereby the Lieutenant Fair Urban County Government agrees to rebate annually 1% of the country's jurisdictional license fee for a term of no longer than 10 years in the activation date subject to the limitations contained in the Act and any agreement with the Department of Economic Development, Finance Authority, or the Urban County Government related to the project and taking other related actions. Item 13, a resolution authorizing your January of the Urban County Government to achieve an agreement with the University of Kentucky designating LFCCG as a preferred internship site with therapeutic recreation programs for the music therapy students. Item 14, a resolution authorized on behalf of the Air Mechanic Government to execute an agreement awarding a Class B infrastructure incentive grant to Lakeshore Village Incorporated for a stormwater quality project and it cost $75,000. Item 15, a resolution authorized on behalf of the Air Mechanic Government to execute this agreement with residential park caretaker properties with the following individuals for the listed properties in consideration of the system stated in annual rent. Paula Carville for 705, Hayden Lane at $5,100. Everett Hampton for 2075, Parker's Mill Road at $3,120. Edmund Cheney for 3401, Shamrock Lane at $6,300. Anna Weikert-Pachinsky for 3990, Raven Runway for $4,680. And Fred Williamson for 4051, Richmond Road for $3,350. Item 16, a resolution authorizing your opinion on behalf of the Irving Hunting Government to accept $301,050 in federal funds. under the CARES Act in support of child care expenses made in a school program for the Division of Parks and Recreation, the acceptance of which does not obligate the Irving-Henning Government for expenditure of funds. Item 17. A resolution authorizing on behalf of the Irving-Henning Government to accept the proposals for this year 2021 for excess liability insurance from and to execute any necessary contracts and documents on behalf of the Irving-Henning Government with the following insurance companies and or their respective broker, Marsh and McLennan Agency Aviation from Westchester Fire insurance company at a cost of $23,655.26. General auto, public official, law enforcement professional and excess liability from KC National Carpenter City Corporation at a cost of $478,193.17. Carpity from Affiliated Factory Mutual FM at a cost of $479,592. Cybercrime Ace American insurance company the cost of the seat 23 461 dollars 90 cents tuition from illinois union insurance company to contact their seat 19 000 614.67 workers compensation from safety national casualty corporation at the cost of not succeed 380 437 dollars the workers have a fixed and payroll audit audit from a safety national casualty corporation at cost of fifty five thousand dollars of personal creation student insurance from marsh mcclellan at the cost to exceed $4,590, all subject to the sufficient funds being appropriated. Item 18. A resolution authorizing the mayor of the Urbany County Government to execute a Fourth Amendment to lease agreement with Denim Life Company, and incorporated extending for one year the term of the lease of the office at 100 Trade Center Street, which is used for the license of the Urbany County Government Wellness Center, at a cost of exceed $115,000, $020,000 to $23.08. Item 19. A resolution authorizing the Mayor of the New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University of New York University A resolution authorizing on behalf of the Irving County Government to execute agreements with Thompson Warders for Westlaw Online Legal Research and Publications for Westlaw Clear and Information Search Services to the Department of Law at a contract with $36,912.01 in fiscal year 2021. And finally, item 22, a resolution condemning racism and injustice, committing to make Lexington Fayette County an inclusive environment and to address policies that do not promote equity and equality, standing steadfast with all citizens of Lexington Fayette County in the fight for racial justice and human rights for all and welcoming input from the community on any necessary policy changes, and authorizing the mayor and council to consider implementation of any necessary tools to eliminate racism and ethnic discrimination within Lexington here at county. Thank you. Move approval. Second. Second. Sorry about that. I heard Councilmember Farmer move approval and I believe Councilmember Ellinger second. All right. If you will please, when you're ready, take a roll call vote. Mr. Maloney? Yes. Ms. Masati? Ms. Masati? Yes. Sorry. Yes. Ms. Reynolds? Yes. Mr. Swadson? Yes. Ms. Bledsoe? Yes ma'am. Mr. Fred Brown? Yes. Mr. James Brown? Yes. Mr. Ellinger? Yes ma'am. Ms. Evans? Yes. Mr. Farmer? Yes ma'am. Vice Mayor K? Yes. Ms. Lamb? Yes, ma'am. And Mr. McCurron? Yes, ma'am. Thank you very much. Those all pass. And next is first reading of resolutions. Item number 23. A resolution set to bid a central bridge company LLC in the amount of $2,854,768.01 for the Brighton Rail Trail Bridge for the Division of Engineering and authorizing the way on behalf of the Airbacaniga to execute an agreement with the Central Bridge Company LLC related to fit. Item 24, a resolution accepting the bids of ABR Construction Incorporated, Bryden Roofing and Texture America Company, Pierce Blackburn Roofing and Tri-State Roofing and Sheath Metal Company, establishing price contracts for roofing, repairs and maintenance for the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management. Item 25, a resolution accepting the bids of Deborah Kumpel, Inc., and Discipline Services Company, Inc., establishing price contracts for public plumbing services for the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management, item 26. A resolution accepting the bid of Dugan & Myers LLC in the amount of $9,270,641 for the Town Branch Aeration Improvement for the Division of Water Quality and Authorizing the Mayor on behalf of the Airbag and the Gervin to execute an agreement with Dugan & Myers LLC related to visit item 27 a resolution ratifying the agreement classified civil service appointments of alicia underwood account in grade 516 and 20.897 hourly in the division of accounting effective march 3rd 2020 james begley traffic signal recognition senior grade 515 and 18.797 hourly in the division of traffic engineering effective in second 2020 and ratifying the classified civil service council lead of rudolph diver vehicle and equipment mechanics grade 512 in 21.113 hourly in the division of streets and roads effective September 14, 2020, and ratifying the classified civil service promotion of Renew Arbelwald, administrative specialist senior grade 516 and 22.380 hourly in the division of revenue effective July 6, 2020. And item 28. Resolution operating and directing man behalf of the Airplane and Government, except a branch from JustFund Education Project, incorporated with grant funds on a amount of $5,000 for the purpose of milling and resurfacing the intersection of Linespin and Short Streets and adding a rainbow design, the acceptance of which does not obligate the urban county government for the expenditure of funds and offers in the major transfer and other funds within the grant budget. Item 29, a resolution authorized and direct from the urban county government to execute a letter of agreement for participating agencies with God's Pantry Food Bank to the Fayette County Pantry Referral Program at no cost to the urban county government. Item 30, a resolution authorized and direct from the urban county government to execute to the supplemental agreement number four with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the acceptance of additional federal funds in the amount of $913,000 for the construction phase of the Brighton Trail pedestrian bridge project, the acceptance of which obligates Air Mechanic Government with the expenditure of $182,600 as a local match to be provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet through the full credits, item 31. A resolution authorizing directly from the grant behind the American government is to submit a grant application to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for the 2018 Project Safety Neighborhood Grant to provide any additional information or present in connection with this grant application and to accept this grant if the application is approved, the grant funds are in the amount of $167,999 with $394.60 in federal funds and are for the purpose of paying overtime and purchasing equipment for targeted enforcement and surveillance in prior areas in fiscal year 2021, the acceptance of which does not obligate the urban head of government for the expenditure funds and to execute and submit a grant application for the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for the 2019 Project in Safe Neighborhood Grant, to provide any additional information, request in connection with this grant application, and to accept this grant if the application is approved, which grant funds are in the amount of $102,849.30 in federal funds, and are for the purpose of paying overtime and purchasing equipment for targeted enforcement and surveillance and prioritized area in fiscal year 2021 the acceptance which does not obligate the urban county government to expenditure funds that are offered in the United States to transfer to unaccomber funds within the state budget. I am 32. A resolution authorizing on behalf of the urban county government to execute amendment number two to the tiger agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation to modify the statement of work schedule and budget for the town branch county project. I am 33. A resolution operating on behalf of the urban county government to execute agreement awarding a Class B Infrastructure Incentive Print to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington or Incorporated for Strom Water Quality Projects at a Class 5 received $29,236. Item 34, a resolution of authority may on behalf of the Air McKenna Governor to execute an agreement awarding a Class B Infrastructure Incentive Print to Churchill McGee LLC for Strom Water Quality Projects at a Class 5 received $99,866. Item 35, a resolution of authority may on behalf of the Air McKenna Governor to execute change winner number one to the grant award agreement with bluegrass green schools incorporated for a strong water quality project decreasing the grant award by the sum of 19 021.66 from 27 135.23 to 8 113.57 item 36 a revolution operation of the mayor of the year beginning government to change number one to the grant award agreement with university university research foundation for strong water quality project decreasing the grant award by the sum of 147.10 from 35 000 to 34,850 dollars and 90 cents. Item 37. A resolution authorizing the mayor to execute change order number one to the grant award agreement with friends of full-time appropriated for its from water quality project increasing the grant award by the sum of $1,875.73 from $33,500 to $31,625.27. Item 38. A resolution authorizing the mayor to execute change order number one to the grant award agreement with the University of Kentucky Research Foundation for a strong water quality project, decreasing the grant award by the sum of $92.26 from $34,954 to $34,861.7. Item 39. A resolution authorizing the name of the Happy Air Buchanan Government Act to get a release of easement and releasing a utility easement on the property located at 307 South Broadway. Item 40. A resolution authorizing the name of the Happy Air Buchanan Government Act to get contract for the Zambelli Fireworks Manufacturing Corporation for July 4, 2020 Fireworks Exhibition and across that receive $20,700. Item 41. A resolution authorizes on their behalf of the American Government to execute and submit a grant application to Kentucky State Police Vehicle Enforcement Division to provide any additional information or request any connection with this grant application and to accept this grant if the application is approved, which provides funds on the amount of $85,000 in federal funds and are for the continuing operation for the Motor Carial Safety Assistance Program 2021, the acceptance of which obligates the urban county government, with the expenditure of $15,000 of the local net, which will be provided for the documentation of existing divisional police staff salary and authorizing the marriage of the country for an unaccompanied from the grant budget, and 42, a resolution authorizing the truth on behalf of the urban county government to execute an agreement with R.J. Corman, railroad company, for the setup and execution of the 4th of July fireworks at railroads by 6th and yard. Thank you. Thank you. I believe we might have a walk-on. Correct. Council member Farmer. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you for the fireworks, too. We had ours last night. Yes, you did. Yes. All right. A motion to walk on. I moved to place on the docket for the virtual council meeting on June 18, 2020, a resolution establishing Clean Energy Corporation as a sole source provider for the purchase of upgrades to the compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station, authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement related to the procurement at a cost not to exceed $181,672. So moved. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. All right. Are there any questions? All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. That motion is approved unanimously. Are there any other walk-ons? Thank you, Council Member Farmer. Are there any other walk-ons? All right. Madam Clerk, if you'll go ahead and give that first reading. A resolution establishing Clean Energy Corporation is a sole first provider for the purchase of upgrades to the compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station for the Division of Waste Management and offers in the mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government. It's a agreement with Clean Energy Corporation, which is currently at a cost of receive $181,675. Thank you. Thank you. Now, are there any suspensions for second reading? Council Member Blount? thank you mayor um i've been asked on behalf of the administration and for the right good reason to suspend the rules for number 40 for the contract with zambelli fireworks and 41 for the agreement with rj corman both relating to the fourth of july fireworks uh i so move to suspend the rules and give them second reading second all right council member mccern seconds um what number should she say because i think it was supposed to be 40 and 42 it looks like it said 41 i believe you're correct if it's fireworks um did i say 41 i apologize i meant to say 42 you can tell i haven't been on my game today that's okay it's 42 sorry about that thank you for catching that council member ellinger um okay so the motion is to suspend the rules and give second reading 40 and 42 all those in favor please raise your hand and that is a unanimous yes vote are there other motions to suspend the rules. Council Member Farmer, did you have a motion? Yes, ma'am. Mine is on the one I just walked on, which I think is now number 43, which this is time sensitive on behalf of expanding the compressed natural gas pad there and making use of some income on our behalf. I know the the commissioner's here to speak to that if we if others have questions, but mine is a motion to do a second reading for number 43. Thank you. All right. Vice Mayor Kay seconds that. Are there any questions? All right. All those in favor of number 43, please raise your hand. Okay. And that looks like all but one. All those opposed? Council Member, there's one opposed council member fred brown thank you very much thank you mayor thank you are there other suspensions okay i do not see any more um so the motion is to the motions are to suspend the rules and do number 40 42 and 43 so I'll ask the clerk if she would please give the second reading. Item 40, a resolution authorizing and directing mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute a contract with San Valley Fireworks Manufacturing Corporation for July 4, 2020 fireworks exhibition at a cost of $50, $20,700. And 42, a resolution authorizing and directing mayor on behalf of the Urban County Government to execute an agreement with R.J. Corman Railroad Company for the setup and execution of Lexington's 4th of July fireworks at railroads Lexington yard and item 43. A resolution establishing clean energy corporation as a sole source provider for the purchase of upgrades to the compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station for the division of waste management and operating the mayor on behalf of the government to execute an agreement with the clean energy corporation related to the procurement at a cost of $181,672. Thank you very much. Do I hear a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Councilmember McCurn moved and Councilmember Lamb seconded. And when you're ready, if you will take a roll call vote, please. Mr. Maloney? Yes. Ms. Masati? Yes. Ms. Reynolds? Yes. Mr. Swanson Yes Ms. Leto Yes ma'am Mr. Fred Brown Yes Mr. James Brown Yes Mr. Ellinger Yes ma'am Ms. Evans Yes Mr. Farmer Yes ma'am Breisner-K Yes Ms. Lamb yes ma'am and mr mccurray yes ma'am all right thank you thank you those all pass and next is communications from the mayor for information only and there is no fire or police discipline tonight and so we're now ready for announcements and i see council member reynolds first up. Thank you, Mayor. I'm going to make a statement, and it's not perfect, but it is very heartfelt, so I hope you'll bear with me. My internet connection's not that great, so hopefully I won't cut out. Yesterday, while hearing public comment in our meeting, things got out of control. Some are saying the meeting should have been shut down. Others are saying we needed to hear the hate some people were putting forth in spoken and written comments. It was shocking, horrific, and by the end several council members were threatened including myself. And while I was incredibly shaken by the threats what honestly bothers me the most is that some members of our community must endure this type of hateful rhetoric on a normal basis and have their lives threatened. I do not know what it is like to be Black, and I never will. It is beyond time that those of us who are not Black listen to those who are. There is an outcry in this nation and in this city, one that goes beyond police brutality, one that has existed from the beginning of this country. It is one that has been ignored, stuffed, hidden. It is one that isn't taught in history books, and it isn't discussed at church potlucks. Today and every day, we can sit here and make excuses, saying that racism is not in our country, not in our state, not in our city, and not in our police department. Out there, things are bad, but not here. We can say that it isn't our experience, and therefore it isn't true. But I believe that doing so would be wrong. Just because we have not been treated the way others have doesn't make their experiences any less true. Some say there should be no protests. Everything should be neat and pretty. And historically, the primary catalyst for change in every country has been to take to the streets and say, we have been talking and we have not been heard. We have asked for action and nothing has been done. We are fed up. I am not saying that all police are bad or that they all do bad things. I greatly value our Lexington Police Department and the officers and police that I work with. What I am saying is that I think the system of policing in our country needs major improvements. I believe that police has a role in society and is important, but that we need innovation, one that prevents death and discrimination. It needs to be more holistic. I do not know the way forward. It is a complex path. I do not condone violence and the mistreatment of police. I also do not condone the mistreatment of my black brown and brown neighbors. I have to ask myself, if I were frequently threatened as I was last night, if my friends and family were killed unfairly, if people of my skin tone were oppressed for hundreds of years, what would I do? I am sure that I would take to the streets. I would ask for reform and I would be livid to say the least. I sure was last night. moving forward i would like to sincerely ask each of my colleagues chief weathers the fop and all of the our residents to collaborate for the well-being of our entire city not just for those who share my experience and my appearance thank you thank you very much councilmember Reynolds. Councilmember Fred Brown. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to take this opportunity to make a statement in support of our police department. I support full accountability, of course, from our police department, and I'm committed to look at specific requests caused by systemic injustice, but we must have law and order and continue to support our local police officers. I believe that we are still understaffed and no way could or will I support defunding of the police department budget. I have advocated adding more police officers in the past. We now have approximately 600 police officers that are on duty. Probably 500 are actually out on the patrol or detective units. units and you you need to i think we all need to be reminded that we have lexington and louisville are the only counties in the state that actually have merged governments all the other counties they have their policing done by cities and then counties and state police they do a lot of their policing we uh we don't have that luxury uh to the extent that our police officers, which is, you could say 500, uh, maybe out there, um, total that could patrol, they're covering a, a big county, a city county. So, uh, you know, that thins down the numbers and then you've got four shifts that you have to deal with. So, uh, at any one time, uh, we really don't have that many officers on duty to cover our vast community. And we just have a large area. And I think that we need to support officers that we have. We rely on our police department to cover the city and county. Thanks. And then I wanted to thank the police for their service. and a special thanks to their spouses and their kids. Because I think being in a family, if you've been in a family, I am in the police family or was at one time. So I've seen some things that are a little bit different maybe from the approach if you're not related or you haven't seen family members go into action or put their lives out in harm's way. So I just want to make that announcement. I just feel very strong that the police department, we need to keep their morale up and encourage them. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you very much, Councilmember Brown. Councilmember James Brown. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to make a few comments about last night's meeting. I think some of the comments that were shared, some of the things that were said is as bad and as inappropriate as they were, to say the least. I think it's unfortunate that we couldn't control it and keep the public from hearing it. And I think at some level that it needs to be heard, because I think. folks don't realize that racism is an issue that some people have to deal with on a daily basis. I think we as a council have taken an important step forward in the resolution that we passed tonight condemning racism and injustice here in Fayette County. I would also like to apologize to the folks that I represent and to the people that were on the line that had something constructive to say when I got off the Zoom. And the reason I got off the Zoom is not because I didn't want to hear what they had to say. It's because when it got to the point where council members were being threatened, their personal information was being shared, I thought it was at that moment that we probably should have ended that meeting. So I just didn't feel comfortable with proceeding. But anybody that has any message for me or anything that they want to say, feel free to either contact me by phone or email and I'm willing to hear it. I think I've shown that in my service. The holistic issue that we're about to take on as a community, as a state, as a country in regards to racism and systematic justice over here, which is what I think has sparked a lot of the social outcry that we see now. I think we have a good department here in Fayette County. I think we have officers that dedicate their time, their service. They have family that support a part of our community. And I think they do a job that they have been called to do and do it on behalf of the citizens. But I agree that there is also opportunity to add some transparency and some potentially additional oversight to make sure or to continue to make sure that the things that happen in other cities and other communities and the things that get out of hand here don't continue. So I think there are some things that we can look for, look to improve on as a council, some of them that have been brought to our attention, some of them that we know that opportunities exist in regards to things that fall under this council's purview. I think we got a lot of good information the last couple of days. I think the information that was shared from the police chief, the police department and the FOP cleared up some things that that was some misinformation. But then I think there was also some light shed on some opportunities for us in regards to prioritizing some items when it comes to collective bargaining that we would like to have addressed. I think the policy in regards to body cameras, I think, is also an opportunity. Working with and seeing that there is an opportunity to have some community input in the disciplinary process. So I would task this council, and I think we're up to the challenge, to work on these issues and see what it is that we can't bring forth, that this community is asking us for in regards to making sure that our police department continues to be the department that we want and be a better department as we move forward. I think we're up to the challenge, and I think that our community needs us to be up to the challenge. We're at a pivotal point now. I think last night was just an opportunity for folks to see this community that we need to do. But I'm confident that we can all come together and do it and move forward together. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you very much, Council Member Brown. I'm sorry, I got one more announcement. There's a Juneteenth celebration coming up tomorrow night from 7 to 8.30. It's the 15th Juneteenth Jubilee highlighting the spirit of freedom on East 7th Street. This has been going on for a lot for, I think, 15 years. And the folks at the cemetery, African Cemetery No. 2, put a lot of hard work and dedication to this program. Thank you very much. Councilmember Lamb. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. And even though I wasn't visible to the meeting last night, I certainly was watching. And after listening to the comments from last night's committee meeting of the whole, I have to say on a personal and professional level, I condemn the racist and homophobic comments that were made. Our community is much better than that. And I ask for prayers in the days to come that we can lead with our hearts and compassion. Our community has good citizens who are inclusive and compassionate. And I hope that you will stand with me and all of my colleagues to be able to communicate that we have no tolerance in Lexington for racism or homophobia. And I do look forward to conversations that we're going to have as a result of what we have found out and the information that has been laid before us over the last few days. I think that this is the place where we start. And I look forward to working with my colleagues on this. And I will also reiterate that I do think we have an excellent police department. We have great officers. And I think that with us all humans together, we all have room for improvement. I do personally. And so I think we all hopefully we can look at it through that lens and and hopefully we can come together as a community to know that that we just we don't tolerate the racism and that that that was exhibited last night in our. that's just that's just not our community and that's not how I see it so I'm willing to work hard to make sure that that that the people that that have spoken to us that we hear them and that we understand and that we find the proper way to move forward with this so thank you so much thank you councilmember lamb councilmember mccern um i'm gonna kind of echo on the trend for this evening with everyone else and what they're kind of saying to you know as councilmember brown mentioned a minute ago we we passed a resolution tonight that um it's important to have passed it's important to have been said but they're words and our words are only as good as our action and so even though they may sound great and everything what is our next step? What are we doing as our next step? I think that from this point, we're taking what has been said to us, what we have heard, and trying to put our heads together the best that we can. Trying to come to an action, a sensible action that represents our police department, but represents our community and everyone that is here. We aren't perfect. Our city is not perfect. Our state is not perfect. Our country is not perfect. But we work every day to be inclusive and accepting for everybody here in this city. And I love that this council works together to try and strive to do so. So I am dedicated to moving forward and putting our heads together and bringing us to the table and then looking forward to the next steps in our conversation. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Bledsoe. Thank you, Mayor. and so much to say, so little time, and my laptop is literally down to like three minutes. So I'm just going to say this very quickly. One, I moved to put into environmental quality, a review of the software and hardware that we use for our entire environmental quality department to make sure we're using route optimization, trip optimization that is useful for our resources. so moved is there a second second number of current seconds is there any question all right all those in favor please raise your hand okay that's unanimous thank you colleagues i would have done that tuesday um and i i i will refrain from coming about the things of this week because it's been hard but i just wanted to take a moment and honor my friend carol barr and i say that because her funeral announcements have been announced and the visitation is this sunday from three to seven at christ church downtown and the funeral will be monday at 11 a.m at southland christian church on richmond road carol was a wife she was a mom sister daughter a friend to a lot of people not just here in Lexington, but all over the country. And she was a gracious person. She was incredibly funny. She was witty. She was comfortable in her own skin. She, she laughed all the time. She was someone that you wanted to be with because the joy of the Lord was in her. And she treated every person who she met with respect and love. And I just want to honor her as a friend and as a person who loved this community and who viewed her role as being Andy's wife really as a public service and that treasured her girls treasured her family treasured this place and she will be a light that we will really miss around in Lexington elsewhere and I just wanted to say thanks for her family for sharing her with the rest of us and she'll be dearly missed thank you thank you Councilmember Bledsoe for those good words. Councilmember Maloney. I too want to follow up with Congressman Andy Barr. He's been real helpful for me. He's helped some of my constituents through times that I couldn't get any help and I want to thank him and my heart goes out to him and his family and it's a tragedy because I lost my father when I was just 12 years old the same way she died. So it's tough to go through and I know what they're going through. To lose a parent like Ed, It's just going to be a while to get over that. But going back to what happened last night and the other day, there was some good conversation Tuesday, and there was some good conversation yesterday, and there was real bad. And you already made my comment yesterday about we shouldn't tolerate this kind of life. Well, you all know who I am. I want to know what's next. And, Mayor, and I don't mean to put you on the spot, but I think we had a lot of information given to us. and you have a task force put together that I think is more mobile to hear these issues and have people come to it than we do. This Zoom-in does not work with us. You have a better chance with some talented people out there. And I'm wondering if we hope that you can take all that information that we received and that the people who have good comments will be able to come to your task force and also best out what their concerns are. And when I listen to both sides, the police is an excellent group for us, but they, too, agree that we always want to improve, and there needs to be improvements. And then on the other side, they have some ideas. But to me, your task force is what's going to have to take control of these issues, because I don't think this is going to be something that we have the manpower or the ability to do with it. And I don't mean to put it on you, but to me, I want this to be fixed. I want it to be done. And I respect you. And when you guys come up and do it quickly, because it needs to be done quickly, we can bring it back to this council. And we can hear those recommendations. And then we can go back and listen to people too. But until then, we have to have somebody controlling this. And I feel that this task force and maybe you might want to echo where you are on this task force and how quick we can do this, because we're getting ready to go on break and it's going to be a hot summer. And my fear is we don't want to leave these people in limbo. They did a tremendous job. There were some bad ones. And I will admit there were some terrible, but there were some good ideas and there were some concerns. And as you all know, I have been preaching not just it's not to me. It's not a police issue. This is an issue that's been going on for 200 years. And I sit here every year and see that we have unemployment 2%. And I see at home giving me an article that we have a 19 to 20% in the North End, East End. We send a false message. We see schools, and I will tell you, I'm not a big fan of the schools. And I know some of you all like the schools, but we're ranked 48th in the country. And we can't even get in the top 10 in our own state in a lot of these departments. and that shows to me that we really don't do the right things not just for everybody but I mean everybody because look it's sad and we have got to come back and treat everybody the same and fair and I don't feel like we've done that and we haven't done that for 200 years and this is a wake-up call and I just don't think it's just a place matter I think it's a lot of matters and I'm glad you have your task force mayor to look at those other issues and also you have somebody to look at the police issue but to me we got to start somewhere and one step at a time and this is and hopefully this would be a great model that we that we can sit across the country that Luskington is tired of letting people get behind and I know we have the top one of the top cities for the fairness ordinance where people want to live I see that we're one of the top places to live for 10 people to live, but I want it for everybody. I want, not just say for the gay community, the white community, the African-American community. I want everybody to be just the best place to live. And I don't hear that. And to me, we have an opportunity to do that. So I just hope you can give us an idea where we're going. This is the golden chance to go for the future and fix the problem that's been going on for 200 years. Thank you, Mayor. Council members, do you mind if I respond to Council Member Maloney? Is that okay? So I appreciate your comments, Council Member Maloney. And I'm meeting with the chairs of the commission tomorrow. That's Rosalind Akins and Dr. Gerald Smith. And then we'll be meeting with the vice chairs of the subcommittees. And the four subcommittees are equity and inclusion, economic slash education, health disparities, and justice and accountability. and some of you have volunteered to be on this commission and we're working as fast as we can to get it up and running and let you know what where you'll be and and thank you for your service i have asked the commission not to be a six month or a nine month or a 12 month commission i've asked them to give me their report by August 31st. And that will be the first step to some immediate action. And then there will possibly be some action that is for continuation of the commission in one way or another. But I am dedicated, just as you are, Council Member Maloney, to making this to taking this, this is our moment. This is it. And if you read Dr. Everett McCorvey's statement, he said exactly what I think. He said, enough is enough. And this right now is the time to make some meaningful change. And so we're working on a quick turnaround, but with input from the community, input from members of the commission who will talk about lots of different issues not just police but those that i mentioned so um i will get all of that to you as soon as we've got it all finalized we're hoping for tomorrow or early next week for all the detail of it thank you Thank you. Yes, thank you. Next up is Vice Mayor Kay. Thank you, Mayor. I want to do two things. One, speak to what happened yesterday, last night, in the public comments. And to reiterate, it should not be necessary to say this, but it seems to be necessary, that we condemn all forms of racism, homophobia, and really any other kind of meanness that surfaces in our community. We saw it, we heard it, and we saw it last night. It was regrettable. We are doing our best to ensure that that never happens again in our meetings. But it's also important to understand as best we can that we have the remnants of racism in our community. We have a long legacy of racism. We may not think we are individually racist or that we hold racist attitudes and behaviors. But even as a white man, I think I understand at some level the ways in which the culture that I was brought up in makes it hard to be completely objective. It just does. I could go into a lot of detail about that, but I don't think I need to. Suffice it to say that no one in our community should be subject to the kinds of language that occurred last night. We regret it. We'll do everything we can to make sure it never happens again. And then two nights ago at a very late hour when we had a work session after the first long round of council comments, I read a statement. And at the risk of boring my colleagues, I want to read it again. A few things have happened since then, and I want to reemphasize what I said then and how I said it. So if you'll just bear with me. I see a danger that people might feel they have to choose between the protesters and the police. As if you have to support one or the other. As if supporting one means you are opposing the other. There is a different way to think about the issues that have been raised and how we should respond to them. We can support our police and at the same time establish policies and practices that hold them to the highest possible standard. We can support them and call for increased transparency and effective discipline when appropriate. We can support the best work they do while calling out those who violate the rights of our citizens. We cannot ask them to protect us in volatile situations and be unable to protect themselves. And we cannot allow the need to protect themselves to be used as an excuse for discriminatory practices of the excessive use of force. we can support peaceful protests and the calls for justice and at the same time condemn any form of violence intimidation or bullying by protesters or anybody else we can listen carefully to the demands they make and at the same time make our own judgments about the virtue of those demands and our ability to meet them. We all share an interest in ensuring that policing, like all other aspects of our community, is fair, effective, and committed to the sanctity of human life and the dignity of each person. That is basic for a great community. We need to take every action that will make that possible. drawing sharp lines and choosing sides is not necessary in that effort and ultimately is not helpful. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Those were beautiful words. Thank you. Council Member Farmer. Thank you, Mayor. Hard to believe it's just Thursday. the congressman was my constituent. His wife was my constituent. They were friends, not as close as others, but acquaintances. And to do the jobs we do, we have to have a spouse and others that help us. And I feel sorry for him in this time of loss because he does a great job. And I know she helped him make that happen. Just a sad, sad situation. Our condolences. and then mayor just a perhaps just a brief discussion i i appreciate what councilmember moley brought up and i appreciate your answer to him given the extraordinary times and the dynamic nature of them do you think we should take i believe we should try to take some sort of action before we go on break i think if we go on break or go on for five weeks without trying to do something, it can be misinterpreted. And help me with that. I mean, I don't want to rush, but we've had a lot brought to us. And I think we need to try to shepherd it a little bit as you were doing with your group. But I'm just wondering about between now and July 9th, is there something constructive that we should aim at trying to do? um well i think that you know one of the reasons i issued the moratorium on the no-knock search warrants was because i did a lot of due diligence to learn what it was i didn't know what what it was. And I met with the chief. I met with some of the officers who use it. I tried to understand exactly what it was. And I knew right away through all those discussions, it was an action I could take now and it could be meaningful. I, as you know, I like to be intentional about things and to understand the facts behind the actions that I might take. And I was the same way as a council member. And I think that there are things I've begun talking with some of you and intend to talk with more of you tomorrow about another action that I would like to take possibly in conjunction with the council sooner rather than later. It's not something I'm prepared to speak about publicly because I haven't talked with each of you individually. And then the other thing is that I know the chief and I meet on a very, very regular basis now. And we have had some very honest conversations about action. And he also will be taking some action. that when he's ready and has it in order he will announce um but i think there are always things i'm i'm a uh you know i'm a product of the council and i believe the council has opportunities there are so many opportunities in this whole situation yes that we are not limited to just one or two or three. So I think it is important for the council to figure out the most important issue to you all, maybe, to take before you go on break. I'm hopeful that we can have these discussions I'd like to have with each of you and see if we can do one thing together. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. That's, we're all in a boat. We're not, we're trying. Thank you. That's what I wanted to make sure. We sure are trying. And then with respect to last night, there is racism here. There is inequality. There are things that will take longer than two weeks, two months, or two years to correct. But as a creature of the council, as you said, Mayor, beyond the problem, the problem, problems, beyond the protesters, beyond the police. Our entity, our chamber, our council, our community had to endure the most vulgar use of free speech that I've ever been a part of. A shell-shocked council left wherever they were or went to bed or whatever. That meeting cannot be quantified in its heinous vulgarity, both written and stated. A horrible time. A time that makes you want to have change. And I just, we had great comments from people who were trying to comment. but to those that came to our meeting and dumped out the worst things of humanity on our front porch you shouldn't have done that and shame on you for doing it your cold dark heart soulless as it is will be your salvation in the end and it will be eternal and it will be warm. I look forward to servicing this council, serving this council and these needs, but there is no room, no room for those words in this setting or the setting of our chamber. We have freedom of speech, but we also have freedom to know when we have been just defiled. I'm sorry for the ladies on the council who took horrible voicing and typing of things. And I can't apologize because, I mean, I can apologize for the fact that it happened, like others have. But I'm still so very upset at what happened. And I value each one of you and all those that we serve. But what happened last night was horrible. And those who perpetrated should look around and think about what they want to be in life. Because what they did last night was the most horrible act of public work I have ever seen. Carry your shame with you well, because I'm reminding you of it for a second time during this five minutes. You get three. We get five each. We may talk again, but you're going to talk nice. Thank you, Mayor. That is all. Thank you, Councilmember Farmer. And if I might say, when we're meeting in the council chamber, we do not allow that. The chair of the meetings in the council chamber never allows that to happen. and it showed to me that the change of venue that we're in presented another opportunity that I do not believe would have happened in the chamber it would have been stopped so I ask if there's any other council announcements no uh council member evans i'm sorry i thought stacy took my hand down um i don't know no that's okay um thank you vice mayor k for rereading what um you'd given us tuesday because that was the whole point of this. It was a fact-finding mission, if you want to call it that, in education. And anyone that took the presentations or the questions, and I will say my questions, as anything other than me doing my job as a legislator, that's unfortunate. This is not an us versus them discussion or situation. Anyone who believes that just isn't listening or doesn't want to listen. I appreciate the words that have been said about what we're labeling as the trollers, but, you know, they're out there. We now know they're all out there. And I wasn't going to say this because I thought I put everything in my prayer and the invocation. But what really hurt me the most was that the adults who had valid comments still could get up there and say, racism doesn't exist, or we don't have a problem here. After listening to me and others be called all kinds of different names. That told me they weren't listening or they didn't care. And that was the hurtful part, to just go on about your comments and not even acknowledge that we'd all been terrorized. To Councilmember Farmer's point, let's call it what it is. That was terrorist, terroristic, threatening, terrorism, whatever you want to call it. That's what it was. And to not acknowledge that when it's happening in your very presence was the most hurtful. I can endure names, but to just go on and not acknowledge that and be able to say everything's fine or there's a little problem. You know, there's more than a little problem. So I want to say thank you to everyone who was calling, who was watching, who was texting before, during and after. I mean, that was very overwhelming and inspiring for me to sit there through it all, knowing that people were there with me who were supporting me, who speaking words of encouragement and love and everything else. Um, so I truly do want to thank everyone who acknowledged what was happening, whether you were a speaker or whether you were just watching it. Um, again, I can't tell you how many phone calls and texts and emails I'm trying to return, um, who reached out to me personally. And I will say there were officers who reached out, who were concerned, who wanted to make sure I was okay, and who understood what we are all trying to do. They understand what my job is. I understand what their job is. And they wanted to let me know that they heard what I was saying, what I was trying to get to, what we're all trying to accomplish. So this is not in us versus them. And if you still believe that, then I don't know what we can do to help you understand what the real issues are. And lastly, I want to say again, thank you to Chris and Stacey, who I know this is all new for all of us. I know you all were getting some some flack for not catching things, but it's a new system for all of us. and I don't blame you. I will say Stacey personally was reaching out to me to say, just don't look at comments. So I don't want anyone out there in the public sphere thinking that they're just lax and just sitting there letting everything come through. That is not the case. They care about us personally. They care about this body. They want to maintain to quorum just as much as anyone else. So I will say publicly, Stacey, Chris, thank you for that, for doing what you could do. It's not something any of us expected to happen. I appreciate you. I appreciate my council members. And again, I just want to say thank you to everybody in the public who sent words of love, encouragement, support. I appreciate it. I can't explain how much it means to me. But I just wanted to say that. And in my thoughts on a on a positive note, there's work to do, but I'm positive that there are enough of us to get it done, just from from the words of encouragement and love that I got. So again, just so many thanks to all of you who reached out and we've got work to do. And that's okay. And we can do it together. because we have to do it together. It's going to take all of us. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Councilmember Evans. Vice Mayor Kay. Thank you, Mayor. And thank you, Angela. I guess I want to say two things. One, the long game is to eliminate racism in all its forms. And that's beyond legislation. that's the minds and the hearts of our people but the short term is legislation which is what this body is capable of doing and from my conversations with all of my colleagues I know that the will is there to address these hard issues and to do it soon I will do everything I can in working with all of you and working with the administration to ensure that we take some concrete positive steps between now and the time that we leave on break. And someone asked me, well, do you have to go on break? I don't know what the answer is for everybody. I do know that we will do our best to get everything done that we need to do. And Council Member James Brown has put some things on the table that I think we need to follow up on that may be the kind of thing that we can come to resolution about and move through our process before we go on break so my I guess my message to the community is we are totally committed to taking action thank you mayor thank you very much council member Swanson Thank you, Mayor. Many of my colleagues have expressed their dismay over last night's proceedings better than I can, and I'm still trying to process what I think, and I'm not going to talk about it too much. Instead, I want to wish everybody a happy Juneteenth. This is, I've never celebrated Juneteenth before, but I think it's a holiday that, to me, it represents freedom, not just from slavery, but from hatred, from racism, And so this is going to be my new holiday to celebrate. It's not a black holiday. It's an American holiday. And I urge all Lexingtonians to join in celebrating Juneteenth and thinking about what it means to have started a country with a significant portion of the population unfree, to have fought a war, to free that population. population. And what that means, we changed through a war, something, the original sin of our country. And it's time to celebrate the end of that. And I think that's something that people who look like me need to be celebrating just as much as people who look like my colleagues who were attacked and my fellow citizens who are on the streets. And this is a, it bothers me so much that holidays like King Day are seen as a Black holiday. This is an American holiday, and I hope Juneteenth takes on that form for many of us as well. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council Member Swanson. Are there any other announcements or comments? If I might just take a minute, I wanted to echo what Council Member Bledsoe and Councilmember Farmer and others said to send my prayers to Congressman Barr and his family for the passing of Carol and we have lost several notable people during this pandemic most recently as well as Carol Barr, we lost Dr. Robert Strauss, who was my behavioral science professor. All nursing students were required to take his course. And it was, it turned out to be the most awesome course I had. He and Ruth lived down the street from me. And when I was vice mayor, I'll tell you, Vice Mayor Kay, when I was vice mayor, he and I would go around the block walking and I would just pour it all out to him. And he was a great mentor for me in that way. And then Bill McCann, Bill McCann was a council member and Bill McCann was on the charter commission and helped write our urban county council charter. and we lost both of those wonderful men this this in the past week also so um i simply wanted to note the passing of those folks um as we move on toward the weekend and toward juneteenth and um since we are not having public comment tonight i will go ahead and ask for a motion to adjourn. Do I hear one? Hello. All right. Vice Mayor Kay and Member Ellinger and all those in favor and I hope you have a good weekend. Thank you very much. We are adjourned. How long to the point of no return? How long? How long to the point of no return? No return! How long? How long? How long? Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello. 6 o'clock on Friday evening, mama doesn't know she's leaving Tis she hears the screen, we're slamming, rubber squealing, gears are jamming Local country station girls are blaring on the radio Pick him up at 7 and they're heading to the rodeo Mama's on the front porch screaming out her warning Girl, you better get your redhead back in bed before the morning