Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The City Council convened with the Mayor presiding over a session that addressed three agenda items spanning legislative action, policy development, and public information. Over the course of the meeting, the Council took 3 votes, heard 2 public comments, and received 1 informational presentation. The agenda included an amendment to Ordinance Number 1, which was approved; a Tobacco-Free Policy Memorandum of Understanding, which was referred to committee for further review; and a Traffic Management Presentation, which was delivered for informational purposes. Overall, the meeting resulted in one item advancing to approval, one item continuing through the legislative process via committee referral, and one item providing the Council with informational context on traffic management matters.

Attendance

All 14 council members were present at the October 27, 2009 Council meeting. No members were recorded as absent or late.

Present: - Council Member James - Council Member Martin - Council Member Feigl - Council Member Gray - Council Member Gordon - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Blues - Council Member Henson - Council Member McCord - Council Member Stennet - Council Member Beard - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member Crosby - Council Member Meyers

Votes and Decisions

Three roll call votes were taken during the October 27, 2009 Council meeting.

• Amendment to Ordinance No. 1 (Second Reading) 2:58: Council Member James moved to amend Ordinance Number 1 under Second Reading of Ordinances to change the selection process for council members. The motion passed 8–6. Voting in favor were Council Members James, Martin, Feigl, Gray, Gordon, Lawless, Blues, and Henson. Voting against were Council Members McCord, Stennet, Beard, Ellinger, Crosby, and Meyers. The amendment was noted to constitute a material change, meaning the ordinance would require a New First Reading before proceeding further.

• Suspension of Rules for Immediate Second Reading 7:57: Council Member James then moved to suspend the rules in order to give the amended ordinance its second reading immediately. The motion failed 7–7. Because suspension of the rules requires a two-thirds vote, the tie was insufficient for passage. Voting in favor were Council Members James, Martin, Gray, Gordon, Lawless, Blues, and Henson. Voting against were Council Members McCord, Stennet, Beard, Ellinger, Crosby, Feigl, and Meyers. Notably, Council Member Feigl, who had supported the underlying amendment, voted against suspending the rules.

• Referral of Tobacco-Free Policy MOU to Intergovernmental Committee 38:48: Council Member Lawless moved, seconded by Council Member Feigl, to refer the tobacco-free policy Memorandum of Understanding to the Intergovernmental Committee. The motion passed 8–6. Individual vote assignments for this item were not recorded in the available data.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the Council during the public comment period.

• Porter Peel 40:27 spoke about the safety of Lansdowne Drive, raising concerns about recent accidents on the road and what he described as inadequate signage. Peel's comments highlighted ongoing safety issues in the area and suggested that current conditions posed a risk to drivers.

• Mr. Cobb 1:45:04 addressed the topic of community development, emphasizing the need for greater economic development in his community. He was critical of what he characterized as an insufficient pace of progress on development efforts.

Contested Items

Two items on the October 27, 2009 Council agenda generated notable disagreement among members and the public.

Amendment to Ordinance Number 1 — Lyric Theater & Cultural Arts Center Corporation Board

The Council considered an amendment to change the selection process for the Lyric Theater & Cultural Arts Center Corporation Board. The item was contested among Council members, resulting in a close split vote of 8 to 6 in favor of the amendment. The narrow margin reflects meaningful division within the Council over how board members for the Lyric Theater & Cultural Arts Center Corporation should be chosen, though the amendment ultimately passed.

Tobacco-Free Policy Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

The proposed Tobacco-Free Policy MOU prompted significant discussion and concern, with opposition centered on the policy's potential impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Community members raised issues about how the tobacco-free policy would affect areas adjacent to the relevant facilities or jurisdiction covered by the MOU. The record does not indicate a final vote outcome for this item, but the level of discussion reflects that it was a point of contention between supporters of the policy and those worried about its neighborhood-level consequences.

Amendment to Ordinance Number 1

2:58

Council Member James brought forward a proposed amendment to Ordinance Number 1, which concerned changes to the selection process for the Lyric Theater & Cultural Arts Center Corporation Board.

Council Member James presented the amendment, which sought to modify how members of the Lyric Theater & Cultural Arts Center Corporation Board are selected. The amendment was put before the Council for consideration and discussion.

The Council ultimately approved the amendment.

Tobacco-Free Policy MOU

38:48

The Council took up a resolution concerning a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Kentucky related to the enforcement of a tobacco-free policy on public sidewalks.

Council Member Lawless and Council Member Crosby were the key participants in the discussion of this item. The debate centered on the implications of entering into an agreement with the University of Kentucky that would extend tobacco-free policy enforcement onto public sidewalks — areas that fall under the jurisdiction of the city rather than the university.

The item was ultimately referred to committee for further review, indicating that Council members felt additional deliberation was needed before moving forward with the MOU. The referral suggests there may have been unresolved questions or concerns about the scope of the agreement, the city's role in enforcing a university policy on public property, or other legal and practical considerations that warranted closer examination before a final vote.

No additional details regarding the specific terms of the MOU, the committee to which it was referred, or the precise nature of the concerns raised were available from the record of this discussion.

Traffic Management Presentation

1:26:11

Steve Cummings delivered a presentation to the Council on current traffic management efforts and the challenges posed by ongoing construction projects in the area.

Cummings outlined the state of traffic management operations, addressing how active construction activity has affected traffic flow and the measures being taken to respond to those conditions. The presentation was informational in nature, providing Council members with an overview of the situation rather than seeking a vote or formal action.

No outcome or decision was required as a result of this item. The presentation served to keep the Council informed on traffic management conditions and the operational challenges stemming from construction work currently underway.