# Council Work Session - November 30, 2021 > Auto-transcribed civic record · November 30, 2021 - **Permalink**: https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/meeting/5480 - **Source video**: https://lfucg.granicus.com/player/clip/5480?view_id=14&redirect=true - **Date**: 2021-11-30 - **Last revised**: November 30, 2021 - **Length**: 6,939 words - **Speakers**: Mayor > ⚠️ **Auto-generated content.** Audio from the official Granicus video was auto-transcribed with OpenAI's open-source Whisper large-v3-turbo model, run locally by The Lexington Times. Structured facts were extracted with GPT-4o; the narrative summary was written by Anthropic Claude. Verbatim wording may contain errors. See [methodology](https://meetings.lexingtonky.news/about/methodology) or [report a correction](mailto:editor@lexingtonky.news). --- ## Meeting Overview The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on November 30, 2021, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed three main agenda items, including the approval of a summary, an informational presentation on Neighborhood Development Funds, and a proclamation honoring Mr. Tony Likidropulos. During the session, the council conducted eight motions and votes, with two items receiving formal approval. The meeting also included one public comment period, allowing community input on matters before the council. The agenda covered both administrative business and community recognition, demonstrating the council's focus on both operational matters and acknowledging local contributions to the community. ## Attendance All members of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council were present for the November 30, 2021 meeting. **Present:** • Mayor Linda Gorton • Vice Mayor Kay • Council Member Ellinger • Council Member Plomin • Council Member Sheehan • Council Member Moloney • Council Member Reynolds • Council Member Legris • Council Member Bledsoe • Council Member Baxter • Council Member James Brown • Council Member Kloiber • Council Member Lamb • Council Member Mccurn **Absent:** None **Late:** None The meeting achieved full attendance with all 14 council members participating. ## Votes and Decisions The council conducted eight votes during the November 30, 2021 meeting, all decided by voice vote. **Motion to Allow Public Comment** [timestamp: 00:30] Council Member Ellinger motioned to allow Avery Hopkins to speak at the beginning of the meeting. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. **Closed Session** [timestamp: 03:00] Vice Mayor Kay moved to go into closed session, seconded by Council Member Plomin. The motion passed by voice vote. **Legal Action Authorization** [timestamp: 06:00] Council Member Moloney motioned to approve a resolution authorizing legal action related to Kentucky Utilities clear cutting. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. **Wastewater Treatment Plant Services** [timestamp: 07:00] Council Member Moloney moved to approve a resolution authorizing purchase support service for Town Branch and West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. **Docket Approval** [timestamp: 09:00] Vice Mayor Kay motioned to approve the docket, seconded by Council Member Sheehan. The motion passed by voice vote. **Work Session Summary** [timestamp: 11:00] Council Member Plomin moved to approve the November 18 work session summary, seconded by Council Member Baxter. The motion passed by voice vote. **Budget Amendments** [timestamp: 13:00] A motion to approve budget amendments was seconded by Council Member Reynolds. The motion passed by voice vote. **New Business Items** [timestamp: 15:00] Council Member Plomin moved to approve new business items, seconded by Council Member Legris. This motion passed by voice vote with one dissenting vote recorded. All motions were approved, with the new business items vote being the only one to receive opposition during the meeting. ## Budget and Financial Actions The council approved seven financial items totaling approximately $366,605 in expenditures and grant funding. **Contracts and Agreements** The largest contract authorization involved $60,000 for Memorandum of Agreements with eight partner farms for the FY2022 Workplace Wellness CSA Farm Share Program (L1056-21). The participating farms include Black Soil, Elmwood Stock Farm, High Five Farm, Homegrown Direct, Lazy Eight Stock Farm, Rolling Fork Organic Farm, Rootbound Farm, and Sustainable Harvest Farm. For infrastructure projects, the council authorized a $150,000 Consultant Service Agreement with Strand Associates, Inc., for the East Lexington Trail Connectivity and Traffic Study (L1206-21). Additionally, Contract Modification No. 4 with CDP Engineers, Inc., was approved for $16,200 to continue design work on the Town Branch Trail Phase III Project (L1203-21). The council also approved a 3-year maintenance agreement with Cummins Sales and Service for $3,266 (L1186-21). **Technology and Equipment Purchases** Several technology-related purchases received authorization, including $3,550 for Magnet AXIOM Core software from Magnet Forensics, which was established as a sole source vendor (L1193-21). The council also approved $7,912.95 to upgrade to the NAVEX Global EthicsPoint tip line platform (L1194-21). **Grant Funding** The council authorized Amendment No. 1 to accept an increase of $125,677 in federal funds from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for transit planning purposes (L1205-21). These financial actions encompass various city operations including employee wellness programs, infrastructure development, equipment maintenance, law enforcement technology, ethics reporting systems, and transportation planning initiatives. ## Public Comment During the public comment period, one community member addressed the council. **Avery Hopkins** spoke about Town Branch, emphasizing its natural beauty and advocating for alternative bicycle infrastructure planning [timestamp: 01:00]. Hopkins recommended that a proposed bicycle route be located along Town Branch rather than Old Frankfort Pike, suggesting this alternative location would be more suitable for cycling infrastructure. The public comment period focused solely on transportation and recreational infrastructure planning, with particular attention to bicycle route placement and the preservation of scenic areas within the community. ## Contested Items The council addressed one significant contested item during the November 30, 2021 meeting that had generated community opposition. **Legal Action Against Kentucky Utilities** The primary contentious issue involved a resolution to authorize legal action against Kentucky Utilities for clear cutting trees. This matter had been a source of ongoing community concern and opposition prior to the meeting. The council discussed the resolution and ultimately approved the legal action authorization against the utility company. The clear cutting of trees by Kentucky Utilities had evidently created sufficient community backlash to warrant formal legal proceedings by the municipality. While the extracted data indicates this was a contested item with community opposition, the specific details of the debate, individual council member positions, or the vote breakdown were not provided in the available materials. The resolution's approval suggests the council sided with community concerns regarding Kentucky Utilities' tree removal practices. ## Approval of Summary [timestamp: 11:00] The Council considered agenda item 1224-21 for the approval of the summary from the Council Work Session held on November 18, 2021. Council Member Plomin and Council Member Baxter participated in the discussion regarding the approval of the meeting summary. The agenda item focused on reviewing and formally approving the documented proceedings from the previous work session. The Council approved the summary of the November 18, 2021 Council Work Session without recorded objections or amendments to the document. ## Neighborhood Development Funds [timestamp: 16:00] The council received an informational presentation on Neighborhood Development Funds under agenda item 1226-21. The presentation provided an overview of the allocation and use of these funds as of November 30, 2021. This was a presentation-only item with no formal action required from the council. The session served to update council members and the public on the current status of neighborhood development funding programs and their utilization across the city. No specific speakers were identified for this agenda item, and no formal outcome or vote was recorded as this was classified as an informational presentation. ## Proclamation: Mr. Tony Likidropulos [timestamp: 18:00] The council considered agenda item 1223-21, a proclamation honoring Mr. Tony Likidropulos for his contributions to the community through his shoe repair business. Mayor Linda Gorton presented the proclamation, recognizing Mr. Likidropulos's service to the community. Council Member Moloney also participated in the presentation of this honor. The proclamation acknowledged Mr. Likidropulos's dedication to the community through his work in the shoe repair industry, highlighting his contributions as a local business owner. The proclamation was approved by the council without opposition, formally recognizing Mr. Likidropulos's community service and business contributions. --- ## Decisions - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Motion to allow Avery Hopkins to speak at the beginning of the meeting - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Motion to go into closed session - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Resolution authorizing legal action related to Kentucky Utilities clear cutting - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Resolution authorizing purchase support service for Town Branch and West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Approval of the docket - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Approval of November 18 work session summary - **Motion** — passed (0-0): Approval of budget amendments - **Motion** — passed (0-1): Approval of new business items --- ## Full transcript Can't you see? I've got to have you all just for me. Step! And girl, yes it's true. No one else will ever do. Step by step. Ooh baby, you're always on my mind. Step by step. Ooh girl, I really think it's just a matter of time. Step by step Ooh baby I'm gonna get to you girl Step by step Ooh baby Really want you in my world Step Step Step Step Step 1, we can have lots of fun. Step 2, there's so much we can do. Step 3, it's just you and me. Step 4, I can give you more. Step 5, don't you know that the time has arrived? Step by step Don't you know I need you Step by step Yes I do girl Step by step Oh baby You're always on my mind Step by step Oh girl I really think it's just a matter of time Step by step, step by step, girl We'll be there, gonna get to your girl Step by step, we'll be there I want you, I want you in my world Step by step Oh, girl, step by step Oh, girl, I really want you in my world Step by step, oh, baby I'm gonna get to you, girl Step by step The End ¶¶ ¶¶ ¶¶ The End Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 30th, 2021, and I would like to go ahead and call to order the Council of Works session and welcome everyone. And I believe that we are right off the bat going to have a motion for, do you want to do that first? Okay. We'll have a motion after we have public comment. So right now we have public comment for issues on the agenda. Is there anyone signed up? Yes, we have one person who is signed up, I think, for issues not on the agenda, but I believe Councilmember Ellinger has a motion. Thank you mayor. Since we only have one person he contacted me and wanted to speak so he didn't have stayed through our closed session through all of our meetings I would make a motion that we allow Mr. Hopkins to speak at the beginning of the meeting. So moved. Vice Mayor Kaye seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor please say aye. Is anyone opposed? All right that motion passes. So Mr. Hopkins? If you will, yes, please come to the podium. And the council asks that you state your name and your council district where you live. And you'll have three minutes. I am Avey Hopkins. I'm in the fifth district. And I'm here to talk to you about town branch. It is a beautiful place. It's in the top ten of the U.S. I've got pictures to prove that. I'd love to come back and discuss it with you. I don't know what else to say, except where they're putting this is dangerous. Old Frankfort Pike has a lot of dust, and it needs to be put on the creek. It's absolutely beautiful. I recommend you not walk down old Franklin Park where your grandkids are on a bicycle. Go downtown Branche. It's a straight shot. Come right down Forbes Road, you run straight into it, and you're home free. Believe me, it's in the top ten in the U.S. It's a shame that it's been overlooked for so long. And if you don't do that, it'll be buried for life. And this is what it's good for, a bicycle route. It's great. Let's put it there. I guess my three minutes is up. You still have a minute and a half at least. Time flies when you're having fun. I'm not a public speaker. But I am honest. Please put the bicycle route where it belongs. People's had the idea that I'm going to get it. I'm for it. Let's put it there. It's awesome. You people ride down Forbes Road, look over. I cut the weeds there myself so you can look at the creek. I hope there's some ducks there today. There's squirrels in the trees. There's birds. What is there on old Frankfort Pike, ladies and gentlemen? What is there? There ain't even a dead rat on old Frankfort Pike. It's terrible. Please do this. I guess my minute's up, but thanks. I'd love to come back. Thank you very much, sir. All right. We appreciate that. Now, I believe Vice Mayor Kay has a motion. Thank you, Mayor. Yes, I move to go into closed session pursuant to KRS 61.811C for the purpose of discussing proposed or pending litigation. So move. Council Member Plumman seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right, we are in closed session. Thank you. Thank you. ¶¶ Thank you. Could I have a motion to come back into open session, please? So moved. Second. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Second. Council Member Ellinger. Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. We are back in open session, and I believe Council Member Maloney has a motion. Yes, Mayor, I have two walk-ons. Okay. Well, we're going right to the docket anyway. Okay. First, I move to place on the docket of December 2, 2021, council meeting a resolution authorizing and directing the Department of Law on behalf of the Urban County Government to file any necessary legal action related to the Kentucky Utilities clear cutting and removal of trees in Luttonton-Fair County. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Sheehan seconds. Is there any discussion? All those in favor of putting this on the docket, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Thank you, Mayor. I move to place on the docket for December 2, 2021, a meeting, council meeting, a resolution authorizing the Division of Water Quality on behalf of the Irving County Government to purchase SCADA support service for the town branch and West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant from the Advantage Industry Automation Incorporation, corporation a sole source provider at the cost not to exceed $46,249.50. So move. Thank you, Vice Mayor Kaye. Is there any discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? That motion passes. Could I have a motion to approve the docket, please, and then we'll have any other discussion? Thank you, Vice Mayor. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Sheehan? All right. Are there any other motions to walk on items or motions about the docket? Okay, Council Member Kloiber. Yes, I propose to place on the docket an ordinance changing the zone from an interchange service business zone, B5P zone, to a highway service business zone B3 zone for 2.47 net 3.5 gross acres for property located at 2275 North Broadway, including a request for a conditional use permit without a hearing. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Ellinger seconds. Any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. Council Member McCurron. Thank you, Mayor. I move to place on the docket item number nine, an ordinance changing the zone from a wholesale and warehouse business B4 zone to a neighborhood business B1 zone for .84 net acres, a property located at 2670 Sandersville Road, without a public hearing. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Sheehan seconds. Any questions? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Anything else for the docket? All right, all those in favor of approving the docket as amended, please say aye. Is anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Thank you very much. Next is the November 18th Council Work Session Summary. Could I have a motion? Council Member Plowman moves. Council Member Baxter seconds. Any questions? All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? That motion passes. Next is budget amendments. Move approval. Second. Thank you. Vice Mayor. Council Member Ellinger seconds. Questions? Council Member Bledsoe. Of course. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. I make a motion to amend the list of budget amendments on page three of the work session packet to add budget amendments so that they may receive two readings before council goes on break. The BAs will, one, provide $71,890.92 for various parks, recreation programs, by recognizing donations and registration fees received in both fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2022. And two, provide $50,000 in water quality for the third and final year of cold stream post construction monitoring by reallocating funds from project design. So moved. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Reynolds seconds. Are there any questions? All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? That motion passes. Is there anything else for budget amendments? All right. All those in favor of approving budget amendments as amended? Say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Thank you. That passes. New business is next. Is there a motion to approve? No, ma'am. Council Member Plowman, thank you. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Legree. All right. Council Member Reynolds. Thank you, Mayor. I wanted to ask, is Ms. Peacher here? Just a question on item F. I know you sent out an email and everything, but I just wanted to clarify for the public as well. So this is to extend what we put in place for sidewalks, seating at restaurants, and also getting permits for being in the street. Is that correct? Yes. So we had the program. Is this better? We had the temporary program in place through the pandemic to allow for businesses to expand outdoors without permits onto sidewalks and into their private parking lots. They had to procure a permit to expand into a public facility, so a park, or into the right-of-way, so a parking space. We are not continuing it in that fashion. What we are doing is come January 1, we'll revert back to our permit processes that were already in place. So sidewalk cafes would need to procure a permit just as they did before the pandemic. That process has been in place for many years, so we'll just reinstitute that. Same thing for using park space. Many businesses were already setting up adjacent to parks. Again, they'll procure the permit that they typically did pre-pandemic. We will not allow them to expand additionally into the park because we're seeing more foot traffic, more events. What we did see is that we had interest in utilizing the on-street parking for businesses, particularly in the downtown area. So what we're doing is there's an amendment before you that would amend the sidewalk cafe ordinance, allowing businesses to obtain a permit to utilize that space, a parking space. So then that makes that feasible where it was not pre-pandemic. And so we're still allowing for all those uses. We're just now making sure that it's permitted. And anyone who wants to use their private parking lot would still be able to do so. But a permit through the Division of Planning, utilizing their development plan process would be required. Okay, that was my next question was about the parking lots, because a lot of our restaurants are using parking lots and have really expanded their outdoor seating even in the winter. So I was just concerned, I don't want to make it too cumbersome if somebody wants to keep doing that. So they would have to apply for a permit. Yes, they would need to check with building inspection and the Division of Planning to determine which process is feasible. The way that it has been, or I think it's been a year or so, right, or more, has it caused any problems? Is there a reason why we couldn't make it quite as strict with having to get a permit for each type? I personally have not received any complaints or seen any issues. However, as we're returning back to more of a normal status of going through our processes, we're putting these permits back in place. One, for public safety, to ensure that everything is being addressed. As you can imagine, not every business would have been visited throughout this pandemic to make sure everything was set up correctly. This would ensure that as we proceed. But I can't speak to all the other details, but I'm happy to find out more from building inspection if you'd like. Okay, thank you. Yeah, I'm just a little concerned at making it harder on our restaurants that are really struggling to survive still. So, thank you. Council Member Ellinger. Thank you, Mayor. I also had questions on F, but you answered all those, so thank you. Okay, on L, on the trail, it looks like Mr. Duncan, I don't know if it's you or is Mr. Burton back there. It may be. I might ask Mr. Burton, too. On this one, this money is just going to be for the study, right? That's correct. And it's going to be a shared use trail? So will this eventually be on the road like a shared, or will we actually have a trail? That's part of what the study will look at, Councilman Wollinger, is the feasibility of making a separated facility for bike and pedestrian, or whether portions of it will need to be shared. Okay. Well, I'm looking forward to this because this will really help to get to the east side of the town. And then the last one would be on in on the cameras. I think Chief Lowe is here to talk about this. Welcome, Chief. Thank you, Chief. I had a conversation with you all, so I have a little more information than what's in the packet here. This is actually a pilot project that normally would cost about $70,000 or $69,000, and it's not going to be a cost to us, right? Correct. There will be no cost for this program. And I guess for the public, when they start thinking about cameras, we're not going to be using those cameras. I guess there's state law that we can't use the cameras to cite people for speeding or going through traffic lights or anything like that, right? This is more going to be for investigation. And I guess I'm probably answering your question. So I'll let you kind of talk about the project here and for the general public. Because any time they start hearing about cameras and policing, their ears perk up. So if you don't mind. So what this is, it's a pilot project but also a study that is being done in conjunction with the National Police Foundation looking at the effectiveness and use of license plate reader cameras in law enforcement to solve and reduce crime. So this study would involve 25 fixed cameras in places throughout Lexington. It will be determined in a joint venture between us and the developer who has crime analysts to help us determine the correct place to put the cameras to study the effectiveness of them. State law does not support the use of traffic cameras for enforcing any laws. In the state of Kentucky, any infraction would have to be witnessed by a law enforcement officer. So this would be an investigative tool and not an enforcement tool. And how long is the study, and when will you come back to us? Because this is, like I said, this is free of charge for us right now, this pilot project. And then how long does it go for? So the best course that we could have taken would have been to bring this to the Planning and Public Safety Committee and go through that committee. but this was a very time-limited offer. We only had until the end of this calendar year to sign the agreement. So the agreement will be for a one-year trial and study for this program, and our intention is once we've got the policy in place of exactly how this project is going to work, that we would come back to the Planning and Public Safety Committee meeting in early 2022 and present both the project plan and our policy. Thank you, Chief. Thank you, Mayor. That's all my questions. Thank you. While you're still there, I believe, I don't know if you mentioned it, these are not in the cruisers. Correct. There was a mistake on the council packet. They're fixed on poles focused on the right-of-ways. So I would ask law if we need a motion to change this or the wording of this item in new business. because it's not on the docket yet i think you can just reflect that the change needs to be made and when we put it on the docket it will have the change on there but if you feel like you want to make a motion you can go ahead and do that okay but i don't think it's i don't think it's If this had already been on the war copy docket, you probably need to go ahead and do that. But under the circumstances, I don't think you do. Okay, perfect. Mayor, I still have to see you on here. Mayor, I still have to see you on here. Yeah, and when you asked that, that didn't remind me. So how are we going to choose the locations on where they're going to be put? So the company, Flock Safety, has crime analysts that will help us with this. we will provide them with our crime data of crime across Lexington and work with them to determine appropriate locations to put these cameras, with the understanding that they would be across Fayette County and not located all concentrated in one area. Okay, thank you. Council Member James Brown. Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Chief Lowe, for the presentation and information. I think Council Member Ellinger asked some good questions about item N. One of the things that I think is one of the reasons I support this is because the point that you made about this is going to be used to collect evidence and as an investigative tool and not something that's going to be enforcement and something proactive. Can you speak to how long the photos or the videos are going to be on record before they get dispensed? So just for public's curiosity. Sure. In the system maintained by Flock Safety, the images that are captured will be stored for 30 days. If those images that were captured become part of a criminal investigation, if they became evidence, they would be moved into our digital evidence management system and retained as part of that criminal case. But if those images are not associated with a criminal investigation, they'll be deleted within 30 days. Yeah, I think that's important to know. I know there's a lot of conversation about potentially misusing video footage and that sort of thing. And I think this is an opportunity to help with some cases where we're not getting help from the public and do some investigating. Mayor, I think Council Member Worley might have some comments about this. I got another question about another item. Council Member Worley, we sure is for Chief Lowe. Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Council Member, for yielding to me. Because I think you covered basically what I was going to bring up. And I think I want to make sure that for everybody's purposes that you caught what Chief Lowe said about bringing this back to the Planning and Public Safety Committee. It's my understanding that there's a time constraint that we need to go ahead and approve this to get into this pilot program now. And they couldn't bring it to the Planning and Public Safety Committee beforehand. But I know they've spoken to several of you. I know they spoke to Council Member Brown and I, who he is chair and I am vice chair of that committee. and I know that he's going to make a point to get that on as soon as possible, but we are under some time constraints, and that's why it was done in this fashion, but Chief has already acknowledged that they are ready and excited to present this to the council through its committee process. I just wanted to make sure everybody and the public picked up on that. So thank you, Council Member, and thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Chief, did you have a messenger? Yeah, through the chief. He wanted to mention that in addition to having meetings with several of the council members, we have already had an initial meeting with the ACLU, the Human Rights Commission, and the NAACP regarding this project. The main concern that they had is the concern that several of you have had and all of us have is where the cameras are going to be placed. And as again I spoke, we will be looking at where crime is happening in Lexington with the understanding that these cameras will be placed throughout Fayette County and not concentrated in one particular area. And it is also our intention. One of the things we did with the Body Worn Camera Project back in 2016 is we met with all three of those organizations and took our proposed policy to them and received feedback from them on the policy before we put it in place. We have that same plan with this program. Thank you. Council Member James Brown, did you want to finish? Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Mayor. Then I also had some questions about item L, Mr. East Lexington Trail connectivity. So, Director, so this project has the ability to tie in all three trail systems, the Brighton, is it the Brighton Rail Trail coming from the east side, the Legacy Trail, and Town Branch Trail? Yes, sir. So, now, I haven't seen the scope of work for the proposal, but the intersection at East 3rd, Midland, and Winchester Road, the focus, is it on the whole area, whether in regards to traffic and what could be implemented there to make it safer as well as tying in the pedestrian trails? Yes, we are going to be looking at that as well as industrial access to some of the users around there. So we're going to see what is feasible to improve safety, to improve operations, and then to add pedestrian and bicycle facilities in that area. Okay. Do you know, so this is, I guess this is design money or just to look at. So tell me what you hope to get out of this study and what the next step is. That's a very good question. What we certainly hope to find out is what is feasible. What can we do within the existing right-of-way that we have? and if the right-of-way we have is not conducive, what would it take to acquire additional right-of-way to make safety improvements, operational improvements, certainly bike and pedestrian improvements. So that's really what we're looking at. It is not designed, this will not design a new facility. It may provide a concept for what a new facility, new intersections could look like, but certainly that would come later with different funding. So what this is going to lay out is what is feasible to make these trail connections, as you described, and to make safety and operational improvements to the road area for purposes of enhancing and augmenting the trail system. Okay, okay. Well, I appreciate that. I know there's a lot of interest in what is happening in that area, and with the town branch nearing completion and legacy trail being completed, it's going to be a whole lot more foot traffic as well as vehicle traffic in this area. So thank you, Director. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Anything else on new business, Councilmembers? All right. All those in favor of new business, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? No on aye. All right. Thank you. One no on aye. That passes. Next is continuing business and presentations. And first I'll need a motion for neighborhood development funds. Council Member Worley made the motion. Council Member Plumman seconded. Any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Council Member Bledsoe has budget finance and economic development. Thank you, Mayor. I have two. First is the report out from the October 26th Budget Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting. The committee first approved the September 28th be fed committee summary. Aaron Hensley provided an overview of the first three months of fiscal year 22. There was a significant variance in personnel due to vacancies and overtime. Employee withholding was showing growth above budget. Commissioner Hensley mentioned there may be an updated revenue estimate in the second quarter. The ARPA reporting deadline in October was pushed to January 31st. Then Commissioner Hensley then provided the annual fund balance presentation for fiscal year 21. This item was reported out on the same day on October 26th, which led to the approval of two ordinances on November 4th. First was the Ordinance 121-21 for the allocation of fund balance, including $400,000 for parking and repairs, $125,000 for a compensation consultant, and $150,000 for IT infrastructure and community corrections. Next was Ordinance 119-21 to fund the COVID winter warming temporary shelter for $1.4 million with ARPA funding rather than the fund balance. The council assigned the remaining fund balance of $26.7 million to budget stabilization. Elodie Dickinson then provided an update to the economic development grant covering the 2020 and 2021 grant cycles. She also presented the progress of Work Lexington, a pilot project that coordinates workforce programming at the Charles Young Center. The pilot project will end in December and then we'll evaluate next steps in January. And then today, this is the partial report out from today's November 30th, 2021 committee meeting. Today, Hilary Angelica reported out the work of the Division and Program Review Process Subcommittee, an initiative that was started in 2019. the subcommittee is recommending the implementation of an evaluation process of divisions and programs to take place within the standing committee structure. In 2022, the goal will be for each standing committee to complete two evaluations. The committee supported the proposal and a motion to report the following motion out today at work session. The motion was made by Council Member Lamb to approve the program review process and seconded by Council Member James Brown. The motion passed without dissent. On behalf of the committee, I so move. Is there a second? Second. Council Member Plumman seconds. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Thank you, that is all. All right, thank you very much. Are there any questions for Council Member Bledsoe? All right. Next, we have a special proclamation. I'd like to ask Mr. Tony Lykordopoulos to join me at the podium, please. I'll ask Council Member Maloney to join us. Yes. Okay. So, it is not an exaggeration to say that Tony Likerdopoulos, the owner of Tony's shoe repair, is a legend right here in downtown Lexington. Tony opened his shop 54 years ago after immigrating to the United States. Having been trained by his father and his grandfather in the art of shoe repair, Tony was ready to start life in America. He quickly became a popular figure downtown, not only for his craftsmanship and attention to detail, but for his kindness and interest in his customers. A lot of those customers became friends, and I think one of them is Fred Peters, still here? Did he come? He left. He had to leave. He was here for a while. So we will miss Tony and his shop, but he will have more time to spend with his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. So, Tony, I want to congratulate you on your retirement, and I have a proclamation to read. Okay? Yes. All right. You're welcome. Hey, Fred. Welcome back. Thank you. Thank you. So, whereas Tony Likerdopoulos, owner of Tony's Shoe Repair, operated his shop for 54 years, and whereas customers who brought their shoes in for Tony to repair were greeted with kindness and thoughtful conversation, and whereas having stayed in the same location on West Short Street until he closed his shop in October of 2021, Tony has been a fixture in downtown Lexington. And whereas Tony immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s and found a new home right here in Lexington. My wife is Kentuckian, sir. Okay. Yeah, my wife is Kentuckian. His wife is a Kentuckian. and Lexington is sure glad you're here. Yes, thank you. Now, therefore, I, Linda Gorton, Mayor of Lexington, do hereby declare November 30th, 2021, Tony Likerdopoulos Day in Lexington. Congratulations. Would you like to say a few words? Shall we let Council Member Maloney speak first? Council Member Maloney, do you want to say anything? I've known Tony for a long time, but he has an important part of my life. As some of you didn't know, my father died young at 42. But one of the things I remember is when my dad's shoes always wore out, Tony was there to fix it. And then the tradition went on with most of my uncles and all them. They always went to Tony. And then years go by, Tony, I was a council member for them, their house flooded. So we end up getting FEMA money, and we end up moving them out of there. And then that lovely little lady over there who gave me a hard time every time. I missed her every day. But these are like family to me. And, Tony, we're going to miss the heck out of you, lessons especially. Thank you, my friend. Thank you. Thank you. So Tony has a speech prepared. So welcome. Mayor Gordon and members of the council and community, I'm humbled to receive this recognition. It has been an honor to live and serve this community for over 50 years. Thank you for all of your business and friendship for the years. The mayor of Short Street will miss you, all of you. God bless America. Would you like to get a photo with the castle? Can I do what? A photo. Oh, yes. Yes, let's get a picture. We'll go right up here. Get that lovely wife up here too. And a costume? You want to go over and take pictures? No. I got a quiver. I got a quiver. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. And council members, now is time for council reports, if you'll log in please. Council member Bledsoe. Thank you, Mayor. I'll quickly start out. Council member Baxter and I had a great time at station 20 on Sunday for the 12 days of giving. Special thanks to Councilman Maloney and Councilman James Brown for coming by. Lieutenant Chris McFarland has done a really good job trying to organize the Fraternal Firefighters toy drive. It's really sweet. His daughter, Lily, who's in the fourth grade and goes to the Spanish immersion program, has been helping them do to ensure the Spanish eligible kids get registered. She was doing all of that, and it was the sweetest thing having her explain to us how she was participating in this effort, which I thought was a really cool family effort on their part. Over 500 families are registered to come to the North Pole this year, so if you are still willing to give an unwrapped toy, you can still drop one off at any fire station. In fact, you can join us on Friday night, where we will be at station 12. Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds and Councilmember LeGray now will be at the Southland Tree Lighting Station. We have the Lafayette Orchestra there at 530. The Lafayette Choir will sing at 6. And we'll do the tree lighting at around 630. Special thanks to Good Foods and Donut Days for providing hot chocolate and cookies. We hope you can come out and join us. And then just quickly, next week we're hosting Lexington Leadership's Government Day. In typical years, we've invited everyone to come. I am not in charge of this effort, I'm just communicating. This year, they are not going to have all of us show up. They're going to reach out to you specifically if you have constituents in the program. So if you hear from them and they've asked you to come, please come. If not, it's because no one in your district was a member this year. So hope you all can join us on the 9th. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember McCarn. Thank you, Mayor. We've got a few events coming up this weekend as well. Starting on Sunday, there's two. One is going to be with the Fraternal Order of Firefighters. They'll have their chili cook-off and the Chuck Williams auction. They'll begin starting at noon at 3475 Blazer Parkway. I was asked to be a judge this year, so I'm bringing my appetite. I see some gentlemen out there chuckling, but I'm very strict on my chili, so be prepared. It will be on Sunday. And then there's another one that's also on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Apollo's Pizza in Metathorpe. It will be the Kentucky Author Open House. It will be a collection of the finest writers and artists in the Commonwealth, such as Tony Moore, Silas House, and Weta Michaels. And then last but not least, I'd like to send a thank you out to James E. Pepper Discillary and Amir Pay for having me over to do my last council comment. If you haven't had the opportunity to stop by the distillery district and check out one of our local distilleries, it's a great opportunity to do so. A lot of neat history, even the foundation and the reopening of the James E. Pepper distillery. So, thank you. Thank you. Council Member Plowman. Thank you, Mayor. I wanted to share and make you all aware that the Southern Lights is back at the Kentucky Horse Park. And this is actually its 28th year, which is a long time. I'm sure many of you have gone to the horse park and you drive through with your car. There's also a gift shop, Santa, a mini train ride, and there's a miniature railroad display. So there's a lot to do, and tickets are $25 per car, and you can purchase those tickets online at the Kentucky Horse Park. Actually, it's southernlightskentucky.com. It's from 5.30 to 10 o'clock from November the 25th through December 31st. So it's a real holiday treat, and I hope you'll check it out. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Kloiber. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to speak real quickly about the resolution we added onto the docket today addressing legal action that we'll be pursuing against KU. On Monday, I was out there with the protesters on Lansdowne Drive as we watched these small crabapple trees, who were much smaller than the lines they were nearby being chopped down. It was a site I won't soon forget, and all I could think about was what KU had said to us right here in this chamber, where they stood there and told us that their decision to clear-cut trees was actually not made for the safety and continued transmission of power to our city. We asked them directly, and they told us in no uncertain terms that properly trimming these trees would provide the same level of safety from power outages as cutting them to the ground. The only reason, and I reiterate this once again, that these trees are cut to the ground instead of trimmed is for profit. And no amount of PR or doublespeak is going to convince the public or myself otherwise, especially when the facts as presented by KU themselves speak so clearly to this point. Now, in general, I'm not opposed to a company working creatively to increase their margins or get a leg up on the competition. But with utility, there is no competition. These extra profits have to come from somewhere, and unfortunately for us, that somewhere is the residents and taxpayers of the city. Now, I know people have a wide range of feelings about trees, but I just want to be clear on this point. This issue is not just about trees. What we're seeing is an unchecked greed from a local monopoly at the expense of our residents. And even if it's unclear at first how these costs are shifted onto us, just know that any increase in profits that they see has to come from somewhere, and we're the only base of customers they have. In a very literal sense, we keep their lights on just as much as they keep on ours. So I regret that we had to go this route. I wish we could have found some kind of an amicable solution, but we deserve to be treated with more respect as a community than what we've been shown. Thank you. Councilmember Lamb. Thank you, Mayor. And I have actually two tree comments. One is based on conversation that we've had about this resolution. I just wanted to state publicly that while I do not condone KU's cutting of the trees, I want to also give proper recognition that they are going to be planting trees this coming week, one for one, back on the Lansdowne Drive median. It is hard for me to sit here and listen and not make sure that we state that fact for my constituents. I realize that it still doesn't make people happy, but I just want to state the fact. Now, on a real positive note, Trees Lexington is sponsoring something really, really fabulous this year, and I really applaud them for this because they have reached out to each one of the council districts, and they have said that they would plant a tree in our district in honor or memory of someone that we chose. And I am so thrilled. back in 2019 there is a green space area in meadowbrook park that we planted a bunch of trees bless you um and i found out at that tree planting that there was a gentleman there's a constituent on east tifferton way that each year he goes and he mows the green way he mows people's yards he shovels people's snow he takes care of people over in that area and i have been trying so hard to figure out a way to honor him and I am so proud this Saturday at three o'clock at Meadowbrook Park at the 341 East Tiverton Way area that we're going to plant a sycamore, a new sycamore tree and we're going to honor this young man and I can't wait to meet him. I have not met him yet and I'm not going to say his name just because I try to be respectful of that. He does know about it, and he is excited. And it is going to be a wonderful event. And so if anybody chooses or wants to come out, I welcome you. There are going to be several neighbors on Tiverton Way that will come and celebrate this gentleman that has done so much for his community. And they say that he push-mows these areas. So I'm going to check these areas out, and we're going to see. Maybe there's a way that we can get him something better than a push mower. I don't know. But anyway, it's an exciting day, Saturday, December 4th, 3 p.m., Meadowbrook Park at 341 East Tiverton Way. And I also want to thank Parks and Recreation for helping us to Trees Lexington, Anita Courtney to designate the area and the species of a tree that we're going to plant and honor this wonderful constituent who helps so many people in his neighborhood. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Councilmember Reynolds. Thank you, Mayor. I wanted to mention Saturday, it was a really nice time downtown in Triangle Park. There was a tree lighting, there was a menorah lighting, Santa showed up, the mayor turned the key and the lights turned on for the big Christmas tree. And several of us were down there and it was a wonderful turnout. And it was so great to see people happy to be out and about. And so that was a really nice time. And then I just wanted to remind everyone about this Saturday, the Christmas parade at 11 AM. And it looks like it might be in the 50s and it might not be freezing. So hopefully people will come out and join us for that as well. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else for a council report? All right. There is no mayor's report today. And next is public comment. Is there anyone left who'd like to talk about issues not on the agenda? All right. I see no one. Do I hear a motion to adjourn? Thank you, Vice Mayor. Who seconded? Council Member Baxter seconded. All those in favor say aye. Anyone opposed? We are adjourned. Thank you very much. Thank you.