Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened for a meeting presided over by Mayor Newberry. The session featured two informational agenda items: a presentation on the Emerald Ash Borer and an update from the Airport Board. Over the course of the meeting, the Council conducted 8 motions and votes, while no public comments were heard. The meeting was primarily informational in nature, with both agenda items resulting in presentations rather than legislative action.

Attendance

The Council meeting on November 17, 2009 was well-attended, with 15 of 16 members present.

Present: - Council Member Gorton - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member James - Council Member Meyers - Council Member Blues - Council Member Stennet - Council Member Gordon - Council Member Lane - Council Member Hinson - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Crosby - Council Member McCord - Council Member Wallace - Council Member Ehler - Vice Mayor Gray

Absent: - Council Member Beard

No members were recorded as late.

Votes and Decisions

All motions at the November 17, 2009 Council meeting passed by voice vote. No roll call votes were taken, so individual member tallies are not available.

• Approval of the Docket 1:59: Moved by Council Member Gorton, seconded by Council Member Ellinger. Passed by voice vote.

• Approval of the November 3rd Summary 2:31: Moved by Council Member James, seconded by Council Member Gorton. Passed by voice vote.

• Approval of Budget Amendments 3:02: Moved by Council Member Gorton, seconded by Council Member Meyers. Passed by voice vote.

• Approval of New Business Items 3:35: Moved by Council Member Blues, seconded by Council Member Meyers. Passed by voice vote.

• Establish an Enterprise Fund for Code Enforcement 24:47: Moved by Council Member Gordon, seconded by Council Member McCord. Passed by voice vote.

• Review and Revise the Hearing Ordinance for Fines 36:54: Moved by Council Member Gordon, seconded by Council Member James. Passed by voice vote.

• Move Recommendation Number Five to the Building Inspection Task Force 38:04: Moved by Council Member Gordon, seconded by Council Member Figle. Passed by voice vote.

• Create a Work Group for the Moratorium: Moved by Council Member Gordon, seconded by Council Member Lawless. Passed by voice vote. No timestamp is available for this item.

Contested Items

• Airport Board Audit and Reimbursements: The Council engaged in heated discussion regarding the handling of inappropriate expenses identified in a state auditor's report, as well as the implementation of new policies in response to that report's findings. The discussion centered on how the Airport Board had addressed the audit's conclusions and what steps were being taken to prevent similar issues going forward. No additional details regarding the specific individuals involved, the dollar amounts in question, or the resolution reached are available from the meeting record.

Emerald Ash Borer Presentation

1:05:01

Karen Angelussi presented to the Council on the threat posed by the Emerald Ash Borer to ash trees in Lexington. The presentation was informational in nature, focusing on the potential impact the invasive pest could have on the town's tree population and the need for the community to develop a plan to address the issue.

The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive insect species known for killing ash trees, and Angelussi's presentation highlighted the scale of potential tree loss that Lexington could face as the pest spreads. The presentation underscored the importance of proactive planning to manage and mitigate the damage to the town's ash tree population.

No formal vote or decision was taken as a result of the presentation; it served as an informational briefing to make the Council aware of the issue and the need for a coordinated response going forward.

Airport Board Update

1:32:18

Bobby Owens delivered an update to the Council on behalf of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board, covering recent developments in airport operations and governance.

Key points of the presentation included:

• New AirTran Service: Owens reported on the addition of AirTran service at the airport, representing an expansion of airline options available to travelers through the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport.
• State Auditor Recommendations: The Airport Board has been working on implementing recommendations issued by the state auditor, indicating ongoing efforts to address findings from a prior audit and improve operational or financial practices at the airport.

The update was informational in nature, with no vote or formal action taken by the Council. No specific concerns or debate were noted in the record for this agenda item.