Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on October 15, 2009, at 7:00 P.M. in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice-Mayor Jim Gray presiding over the session. The meeting addressed two agenda items, both of which were approved: a zone change for the property at 1612 Versailles Road and a moratorium in the Third Council District. Over the course of the meeting, the Council conducted 4 votes and heard 2 public comments from members of the public.

Attendance

The following members were present at the October 15, 2009 Council meeting:

• Jim Gray
• Lane
• Lawless
• Martin
• McChord
• Myers
• Stinnett
• Beard
• Blues
• Crosbie
• Ellinger
• Feigel
• Gorton
• Henson

Absent: James

No members were recorded as late.

Votes and Decisions

The Council considered four items requiring formal votes at the October 15, 2009 meeting.

• Ordinance 211-2009 — A zone change from R-2 to R-4 for property at 1612 Versailles Rd., subject to certain use restrictions. Motioned by Crosbie, seconded by Ellinger. The ordinance passed unanimously, 14–0, with all members voting in favor: Lane, Lawless, Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Feigel, Gorton, Gray, and Henson. 8:34

• Ordinance 212-2009 — Issuance of $35,805,000 in Sewer System Revenue Bonds. Motioned by Crosbie, seconded by Myers. The ordinance passed unanimously, 14–0, with the same 14 members voting in favor. 9:06

• Resolution 611-2009 — An inducement to Florida Tile, Inc., amended to add "the" for clarity. Motioned by Gorton, seconded by Crosbie. The resolution passed unanimously, 14–0, with all 14 members voting in favor. 1:09:00

• Resolution 645-2009 — A moratorium on building permits in the Third Council District. Motioned by Gorton, seconded by Ellinger. The resolution passed on a roll call vote of 13–1. Voting in favor were Lane, Lawless, Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Gorton, Gray, and Henson. Feigel cast the sole dissenting vote. 1:53:18

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council addressed two financial items during the October 15, 2009 meeting.

• Sewer System Revenue Bonds (Ordinance 212-2009): The Council took action on the issuance of $35,805,000 in Sewer System Revenue Bonds. This bond measure, identified under Ordinance 212-2009, represents a significant capital financing action for the city's sewer infrastructure.

• Inducement to Florida Tile, Inc. (Resolution 611-2009): The Council considered an inducement offer to Florida Tile, Inc. under Resolution 611-2009. The inducement is structured as 1% of occupational license fees to be directed to Florida Tile, Inc., representing an economic incentive arrangement with the company.

Public Comment

Two individuals addressed the Council during the October 15, 2009 meeting.

• Rabbi Marc Kline opened the meeting with an invocation 1:40, speaking on the themes of peace and partnership. He drew parallels between broader principles of maintaining peace and their application to local governance, emphasizing the importance of collaborative engagement in that effort.

• Hark Pickett spoke regarding the moratorium in the Third Council District 1:30:42. Pickett expressed gratitude toward the Council for recognizing the need for a moratorium in the district and indicated a desire for continued engagement with the Council on the matter going forward.

Appointments

The Council took action on two appointments during the October 15, 2009 meeting.

• Thomas Thompson was appointed to the role of Security Officer.
• Linda Rumpke was appointed to the role of Commissioner of Finance and Administration.

Contested Items

• Moratorium on Building Permits in the Third Council District: A resolution declaring a moratorium on building permits in the Third Council District generated notable disagreement among council members. Concerns were raised about the potential impact the moratorium could have on families in the affected area, as well as the need for broader public input before such a measure was enacted. The item was decided by a split vote, indicating that council members were not in agreement on whether the moratorium was the appropriate course of action at this time. Specific vote tallies and the names of members voting for or against the measure were not provided in the available data.

Zone change for 1612 Versailles Rd.

Ordinance 211-2009 8:34

The Council took up Ordinance 211-2009, which proposed changing the zoning designation for the property at 1612 Versailles Rd. from a Two-Family Residential (R-2) zone to a High Density Apartment (R-4) zone.

Key speakers on this item included Crosbie and Ellinger, who participated in the discussion surrounding the proposed zone change. The ordinance represented a significant shift in the permitted land use for the property, moving it from a classification that allows two-family residential structures to one that permits high-density apartment development.

The Council ultimately approved Ordinance 211-2009.

Moratorium in Third Council District

1:53:18

The Council took up Resolution 645-2009, a measure declaring a moratorium on building permits for additions to existing structures in the Third Council District. The stated purpose of the moratorium was to allow time to study existing regulations governing such construction.

Key speakers on this item included Gorton and Ellinger. The resolution was ultimately approved by the Council.

*Note: The available record does not include detailed information on the specific arguments made, concerns raised, or the vote count for this item.*