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 agenda items, both informational in nature: a presentation on the Red Mile Project and a report from the Mayor's Commission on Mortgage Lending Practices. Over the course of the meeting, the Council heard from 5 public commenters and conducted 2 votes. No final legislative actions or approvals were recorded among the agenda items, as both items were presented for informational purposes only.

Attendance

The following members were present at the December 1, 2009 Council meeting:

• Mayor Newberry
• Vice Mayor Gray
• Council Member James
• Council Member Stinnett
• Council Member Lawless
• Council Member Blues
• Council Member Henson
• Council Member Meyers
• Council Member Martin
• Council Member McCord
• Council Member Crosby
• Council Member Gordon
• Council Member Lane
• Council Member Ellinger

Absent: Council Member Beard and Council Member Feigel

No members were recorded as arriving late. A total of 14 members were present out of 16, constituting a strong quorum for the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

Two voice votes were taken during the December 1, 2009 Council meeting. Neither vote was a roll call, so individual member tallies are not available.

• Tabling of Rules and Procedures Resolution 2:08:26: Council Member Lane moved, with a second from Council Member Ellinger, to table a resolution related to the rules and procedures of the Urban County Council until the first meeting in January. The motion passed by voice vote.

• Placing Oath of Office Ordinance on the Docket 2:24:26: Council Member Myers moved, with a second from Council Member Blues, to place on the docket an ordinance that would require appointees to boards, agencies, and commissions to take an oath of office. The motion passed by voice vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

During the December 1, 2009 Council meeting, one significant financial item was presented for consideration:

• Legacy Trail and Downtown Streetscape Grant: The Council addressed a grant from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet totaling $6,375,000. The funding was designated to support two separate infrastructure initiatives: phases one and two of the Legacy Trail Project, as well as the Downtown Streetscape Project. No specific resolution number or individual vendor/recipient was identified in connection with this item.

No additional budget amendments, appropriations, or other financial actions were recorded for this meeting.

Public Comment

Five members of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period, all speaking in support of the Distillery District. 2:48:45

• Jessica Case opened the public comment period by emphasizing the economic benefits of the Distillery District, specifically highlighting its potential for job creation and tax revenue generation. 2:48:45

• Clark Case followed, speaking to the current reality and future potential of the Distillery District. He noted the project's ability to attract visitors and generate revenue for the community. 2:51:56

• Nathan Kryder addressed the Council regarding what he described as overwhelming community support for the Distillery District. He also spoke to the project's potential to attract the creative class to the area. 2:55:22

• Dan Roland, representing Progress Lexington, argued that the Distillery District aligns with his organization's values of economic growth and community engagement. 3:00:54

• Griffin Van Meter closed the public comment period with remarks supporting the Distillery District, emphasizing both its economic development potential and its role in cultural preservation. 3:04:06

No speakers appeared in opposition to the Distillery District during this public comment period. All five commenters addressed the same topic, reflecting a unified message of community support for the project's economic and cultural merits.

Contested Items

• Resolution on Council Rules and Procedures: A resolution concerning the rules and procedures of the Urban County Council generated procedural disagreement among members during the meeting. A motion was made to table the resolution until the first meeting in January, reflecting differing opinions among council members about the appropriate timing and content of the proposed changes. The structured data does not specify which individual members were involved in the dispute or the precise nature of the proposed rule changes. The outcome of the motion to table was not detailed in the available data, though the motion itself indicates that at least some members were not prepared to move forward with the resolution at the December 1, 2009 meeting.

Presentation on the Red Mile Project

1:33:18

The Council received an informational presentation on the Red Mile Project, covering development plans that included mixed-use development and infrastructure improvements for the area.

Key speakers for this item were Stan Harvey and Jeff Yost, who led the presentation before the Council.

The presentation was informational in nature, and no formal action or vote was taken as a result.

Mayor's Commission on Mortgage Lending Practices

27:58

Dr. Judy Jackson appeared before the Council to present findings from the Mayor's Commission on Mortgage Lending Practices. The presentation focused on mortgage lending disparities and included recommendations aimed at addressing the issues identified by the Commission.

Dr. Jackson's presentation highlighted disparities in mortgage lending practices and put forward recommendations centered on financial literacy programs as a means of addressing those disparities.

The item was informational in nature, and no formal vote or action was taken by the Council as a result of the presentation.