Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The City Council convened with the Mayor presiding over a session that covered a broad range of municipal business. The meeting featured 9 agenda items, the majority of which were informational in nature, spanning topics from a junior fire chief introduction to updates on the Census 2010 effort and the ongoing Streetscapes project. Of the 9 agenda items, one item — the Vacant Property Review Commission — resulted in a formal approval, while the remaining items were presented for the Council's information. In total, 9 motions and votes were recorded during the session.

The meeting included 2 public comments, including dedicated comment on the Streetscapes project. Committee reports were delivered from several bodies, including the Water Resource Oversight Committee, the Outside Agency Oversight Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee, and the Committee of the Whole, reflecting a wide scope of ongoing municipal oversight activity.

Attendance

All eleven Council Members were present at the October 6, 2009 meeting. No members were recorded as absent or late.

Present: - Council Member Crosby - Council Member Blues - Council Member Beard - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Myers - Council Member McCord - Council Member Stennet - Council Member James - Council Member Gorton - Council Member Hinson

Votes and Decisions

All votes at the October 6, 2009 Council meeting passed by voice vote. No roll call votes were recorded, and individual vote counts are not available.

• Agenda Amendment 0:02: On a motion by Council Member Crosby, the Council voted to amend the agenda to allow the fire department to introduce the junior fire chief first. Passed by voice vote.

• Approval of September 29th Summary 20:06: Council Member Blues moved, and Council Member Crosby seconded, to approve the September 29th summary. Passed by voice vote.

• Approval of New Business Items 20:37: Council Member Beard moved, and Council Member Crosby seconded, to approve new business items. Passed by voice vote.

• Amendment to New Business Item E 22:22: Council Member Blues moved, and Council Member Myers seconded, to amend Item E in new business to correct the number of trucks from 5 to 24. Passed by voice vote.

• Special Meeting for Showprop TIF Public Hearing 1:03:29: Council Member Ellinger moved, and Council Member Myers seconded, to set a special meeting for October 27th for a public hearing on the Showprop TIF project. Passed by voice vote.

• Vacant Property Review Commission Ordinance 1:08:28: Council Member Crosby moved, and Council Member Feigel seconded, to add the draft ordinance for the Vacant Property Review Commission to the docket. Passed by voice vote.

• South Limestone Project Work Hours 1:53:28: Council Member Stennet moved, and Council Member Lawless seconded, to request a plan to extend work hours on the South Limestone project to 10:00 or 11:00 PM. Passed by voice vote.

• Amendment to Ordinance 137-2009 (Corridors Commission) 2:13:29: Council Member Beard moved, and Council Member Ellinger seconded, to add an amendment to Ordinance 137-2009 regarding the Corridors Commission to the docket. Passed by voice vote.

• Neighborhood Development Fund 2:17:33: Council Member Ellinger moved, and Council Member Crosby seconded, to approve the Neighborhood Development Fund. Passed by voice vote.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the Council during the October 6, 2009 meeting, both speaking to issues related to ongoing street construction in the South Limestone corridor.

• Rob Morris 6:35 opened public comment by raising concerns about the South Limestone Streetscapes Project and its economic consequences for local businesses. Morris cited significant business losses resulting from the disruption caused by the project and urged the Council to take action to address the impact on affected businesses.

• Mr. Cirigliano 2:30:14 also spoke to the South Limestone Project, but offered a contrasting perspective. He commended city officials for their responsiveness in handling the project and pushed back on criticism from the business community, noting that many of those currently complaining about the project's impact had not attended planning meetings held prior to construction.

Together, the comments reflected a divide in public opinion on the South Limestone Streetscapes Project — with concerns about economic harm on one side, and a defense of the city's planning process on the other.

Contested Items

South Limestone Streetscapes Project

The South Limestone Streetscapes Project generated heated discussion among council members and local business owners. The debate centered on the project's impact on businesses in the affected area and questions about whether the terms of the contract were being properly followed. Business owners expressed frustration over disruptions caused by the project, while council members pressed on the need for compliance with contractual obligations. The record does not indicate a final resolution was reached during this portion of the meeting.

TIF Project Approval Process

Council members engaged in a contentious debate over the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) project approval process. The disagreement focused on the timing of moving the project forward, its economic viability, and whether sufficient public input had been gathered before proceeding. Some members raised concerns that advancing the project at this stage was premature given the economic climate and the level of community engagement that had taken place. The discussion reflected broader tensions over how and when major financing decisions should be brought to a vote. No clear outcome is indicated in the available record from this portion of the meeting.

Introduction of Junior Fire Chief

2:48

Battalion Chief Marshall Griggs appeared before the Council to introduce the Junior Fire Chief, Ben Setlak. Following his introduction, Ben Setlak addressed the Council directly, sharing fire safety tips as part of the presentation.

This item was informational in nature, with no action or vote required from the Council.

Public Comment on Streetscapes Project

6:35

During this portion of the meeting, the Council received public comment regarding the South Limestone Streetscapes Project.

Key Speaker: Rob Morris

Rob Morris addressed the Council to raise concerns about the economic impact of the South Limestone Streetscapes Project. Morris spoke to the negative disruption the project has caused, urging the Council to take action to address the situation.

• Project in question: South Limestone Streetscapes Project
• Concerns raised: Negative economic impact resulting from the project's disruption
• Request to Council: That the Council take steps to address the disruption caused by the ongoing project

No formal action was taken on this item. The discussion was informational in nature, serving as an opportunity for a member of the public to bring concerns directly to the Council's attention.

Water Resource Oversight Committee Report

22:52

Council Member Blues presented a report on the Water Resource Oversight Committee's most recent meeting. The report covered two primary areas of discussion: budget and financial information, and updates on current construction projects.

No additional details were provided regarding the specific figures discussed in the financial briefing or the particular construction projects reviewed by the committee. The report was informational in nature, and no action was taken by the Council as a result of the presentation.

Outside Agency Oversight Committee Report

25:10

Council Member Myers presented the report from the Outside Agency Oversight Committee, covering two primary recommendations from the committee.

Key Recommendations:

• Regular meetings of the Economic Development Task Force: The committee recommended that the Economic Development Task Force hold regular meetings going forward.
• Renaming the committee: The committee proposed renaming itself the Partner Agency Oversight Committee, reflecting a shift in how the body characterizes its relationship with the outside agencies it oversees.

The item was informational in nature, and no formal vote or action was taken by the Council at this time.

Budget and Finance Committee Report

27:19

Council Member Stennet delivered the Budget and Finance Committee Report, covering several financial topics before the Council.

The report addressed the following areas:

• Revenue and Expenditures: Council Member Stennet provided an update on the town's current revenue and expenditure status.
• Fiscal Year 2009 Audit: The committee discussed the audit for fiscal year 2009, with Council Member Stennet presenting relevant findings or progress to the full Council.
• Business Occupational License Fee: The committee held discussions regarding the business occupational license fee, though no final action was indicated as part of this report.

The presentation was informational in nature, with no votes or binding decisions recorded as an outcome of this agenda item.

Committee of the Whole Report

32:09

Council Member Ellinger delivered the Committee of the Whole Report, providing an update on discussions related to a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) project. The report centered on the SHOPROP Lexington Development Area, which had been a subject of committee deliberation.

Ellinger noted that the committee's discussion included the need to schedule a public hearing in connection with the TIF project. No final action was taken as a result of this report; it was presented to the full Council for informational purposes.

Vacant Property Review Commission

1:06:45

Council Member Crosby led the discussion on this agenda item, which focused on the reactivation of the Vacant Property Review Commission and proposed amendments to the relevant ordinance.

Council Member Crosby presented the case for bringing the commission back into active status, along with proposed ordinance amendments connected to its reactivation. The specifics of those amendments were discussed as part of the item.

The Council approved the item as presented.

Census 2010 Update

1:13:06

Benjamin Johnson from the US Census Bureau presented an update to the Council on preparations and priorities for the 2010 Census.

Johnson emphasized the importance of achieving an accurate population count, highlighting two primary reasons the census matters for communities:

• Federal funding: Census data is used to determine the allocation of federal dollars to states and localities, meaning an undercount could result in a community receiving fewer resources than it is entitled to.
• Political representation: Population figures from the census are used to apportion congressional seats and draw district boundaries, making an accurate count critical for ensuring proper representation at the state and federal levels.

The presentation was informational in nature, and no votes or formal actions were taken by the Council as a result.

Streetscape Update

1:33:26

Harold Tate and Cleet Behnken presented an update on the downtown streetscape plan during this agenda item. The presentation focused on the Cheapside Park component of the streetscape project, and the speakers also addressed questions related to the South Limestone project.

The item was informational in nature, with no vote or formal action taken by the Council. No additional details regarding specific design elements, timelines, costs, or concerns raised during the discussion are available from the provided materials.