Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on August 25, 2009, with Mayor Newberry presiding over the session. The meeting addressed 6 agenda items spanning land use, financial settlements, personnel matters, and general municipal business. All items brought before the Council were approved, including a zone change for 1700 Leestown Rd., a Sheriff's settlement of 2008 taxes, pay equity inversions, budget amendments, a broad package of new business items (A through O), and the Mayor's Report. Over the course of the meeting, 7 motions and votes were taken and 2 public comments were heard.

Attendance

The following members were present at the August 25, 2009 Council meeting:

• Mayor Newberry
• CM Blues
• CM Beard
• CM Lane
• CM Gorton
• CM Lawless
• CM Henson
• CM Myers
• CM Stinnett
• CM McChord
• CM Ellinger
• CM Martin
• CM Crosby

The following members were absent:

• CM Feigel
• CM James
• CM Martin

No members were recorded as arriving late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Council took the following actions at the August 25, 2009 meeting:

• Zone Change at 1700 Leestown Rd. 4:16 — Moved by CM Blues, seconded by CM Beard, the Council unanimously approved placing on the docket an ordinance changing the zone from Light Industrial (I-1) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) for the property at 1700 Leestown Rd. A landscape buffer was imposed as a condition of granting the zone change.

• Sheriff's Settlement Audit Resolution 6:31 — Moved by CM Lane, seconded by CM Henson, the Council unanimously approved placing on the docket a resolution approving the report of the audit examination of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Sheriff's Settlement for 2008 taxes.

• Pay Equity Inversion Ordinances 5:28 — Moved by CM Gorton, seconded by CM Lawless, the Council unanimously approved placing on the docket three ordinances correcting pay equity inversions.

• Budget Journal Amendment 8:11 — Moved by CM Henson, seconded by CM Beard, the Council unanimously approved amending budget journal 36078-79 from $4,161 to $2,766.

• New Business Items A–O 9:18 — Moved by CM Beard, seconded by CM Blues, the Council unanimously approved new business items A through O.

• Mayor's Report 35:03 — Moved by CM Myers, seconded by CM Stinnett, the Council unanimously approved the Mayor's Report.

• Transit Authority Board Nominee Removal 37:17 — Moved by CM Gorton, seconded by CM Blues, a motion to remove the nominee for the Transit Authority Board failed by a roll call vote of 3 ayes to 10 nays. Voting in favor of removal: CM Gorton, CM Blues, and CM Lane. Voting against removal: CM Myers, CM Stinnett, CM Crosby, CM Martin, CM Beard, CM Lawless, CM Ellinger, CM McChord, CM Henson, and CM Lane.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council addressed one budget amendment during the August 25, 2009 meeting.

• Budget Journal Amendment (36078-79): The Council acted on an amendment to budget journal entries 36078-79 in the amount of $2,766. No vendor, recipient, or associated resolution number was recorded in connection with this item.

No additional financial actions, appropriations, or expenditure approvals were taken up during this meeting.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period.

David Sams 1:01:32 raised concerns about the use of urban services funds, expressing that money from this fund was being directed toward purposes other than those originally intended. Sams also put forward a suggestion that the Council consider commissioning a study examining health issues faced by solid waste workers.

Richard Lawrence 1:05:25 spoke regarding a sewer contract bid submitted by his company. Lawrence discussed the bidding process and indicated that he had provided additional information in connection with his company's bid. He expressed optimism that his company would ultimately be awarded the contract following the submission of that information.

Appointments

The Council took action on the following appointment during the meeting:

• Mr. Crissman was appointed to the Transit Authority Board.

Contested Items

Transit Authority Board Appointment

The council considered an appointment to the Transit Authority Board, which drew opposition from a minority of council members over concerns related to gender diversity. A motion was brought forward to remove the nominee from consideration on those grounds. The motion failed by a vote of 10 to 3, meaning the nominee's appointment proceeded over the objections of the three dissenting members.

Zone Change for 1700 Leestown Rd.

4:16

The Council took up an ordinance to rezone the property at 1700 Leestown Rd. from Light Industrial (I-1) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3). The item was considered without a public hearing.

Key speakers during this agenda item included CM Blues and CM Beard. The ordinance was approved by the Council.

Sheriff's Settlement 2008 Taxes

6:31

The Council took up a resolution to approve the report of the audit examination of the Sheriff's Settlement for 2008 taxes. CM Lane and CM Henson were the primary speakers during discussion of this item.

The resolution was approved by the Council.

Pay Equity Inversions

5:28

The Council considered three ordinances addressing pay equity inversions that had been created by the hiring of a new employee. The inversions occurred over a period spanning September 2007 to July 2009.

Key speakers on this item included CM Gorton and CM Lawless. The ordinances were presented as corrective measures to resolve compensation imbalances that arose when a new hire's pay created inequities relative to existing employees — a situation known as a pay equity inversion.

All three ordinances were approved by the Council.

Budget Amendments

8:11

The Council took up a motion to amend budget journal 36078-79, reducing the amount from $4,161 to $2,766. CM Henson and CM Beard were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.

The amendment was approved by the Council.

New Business Items A-O

9:18

The Council took up a motion to approve New Business Items A through O as a collective action. CM Beard and CM Blues were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting. The motion to approve the full slate of new business items was brought forward, discussed, and ultimately approved by the Council.

No additional details regarding specific concerns raised or individual item debates are available from the record for this agenda item.

Mayor's Report

35:03

The Council took up the Mayor's Report, which included discussion of an appointment to the Transit Authority Board. CM Myers and CM Stinnett were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting. The Mayor's Report was ultimately approved by the Council.