Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on January 14, 2010, at 7:00 P.M. in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Newberry presiding. The meeting included 5 agenda items, covering procedural matters as well as substantive legislative and financial business. The Council approved 3 items of substance: an ordinance related to Series 2010A Bonds, a resolution concerning a Fire Training Structure, and a resolution regarding the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion. In total, 6 votes were taken over the course of the meeting, and 2 public comments were heard.

Attendance

All 15 council members were present at the January 14, 2010 meeting. No members were recorded as absent or late.

Members Present: - Beard - Blues - Crosbie - Ellinger - Feigel - Gorton - Gray - Henson - James - Lane - Lawless - Martin - McChord - Myers - Stinnett

Votes and Decisions

The Council took action on six items during the January 14, 2010 meeting.

• Approval of Minutes 0:05: Moved by Gorton, seconded by Crosbie. The minutes from previous meetings were approved unanimously, 15–0, with all members voting in favor: Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Feigel, Gorton, Gray, Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, Martin, McChord, Myers, and Stinnett.

• Amendment to Ordinance Regarding Series 2010A Bonds 0:08: Moved by Stinnett, seconded by Martin. The amendment passed unanimously, 15–0, with all 15 members voting in favor.

• Approval of Ordinance Regarding Series 2010A Bonds (as Amended) 0:14: Moved by Gorton, seconded by Ellinger. This item passed on a roll call vote of 13–2. Voting in favor: Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Feigel, Gorton, Gray, Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, McChord, Myers, and Stinnett. Voting against: Ellinger and Martin.

• Approval of Various Ordinances Entitled to Second Reading 0:15: Moved by Gorton, seconded by Ellinger. The ordinances passed on a roll call vote of 15–0, with all members voting in favor.

• Approval of Resolution for Fire Training Structure 0:26: Moved by Ellinger, seconded by Myers. The resolution passed on a roll call vote of 15–0, with all members voting in favor.

• Approval of Resolution for Fifth Third Bank Pavilion 1:07: Moved by Blues, seconded by Gordon. The resolution passed on a roll call vote of 15–0, with all members voting in favor.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council considered two contracts during the January 14, 2010 meeting, covering capital projects for public safety and parks infrastructure.

• Live Fire Training Structure: The Council took action on a contract valued at $259,135 with Fire Training Structures, LLC for the purchase and installation of a Live Fire Training Structure for the Division of Fire and Emergency Services. This structure is intended to support hands-on training operations for fire personnel.

• Fifth Third Bank Pavilion at Cheapside Park: The Council also considered a contract totaling $715,977.02 with Marrillia Design and Construction for work on the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion located at Cheapside Park. This project represents a significant investment in the city's public park infrastructure.

No resolution numbers were available in the source materials for either contract. Combined, the two contracts represent a total public expenditure of approximately $975,112.02.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period.

• Yael Brown 1:13:06 spoke in support of allowing firefighters to travel to Haiti to assist with disaster relief efforts. Brown emphasized the importance of helping those in need in the wake of the disaster.

• Mr. McCarthy 1:14:12 raised concerns about gunfire in his neighborhood on New Year's Eve, questioning the safety implications of real bullets being fired in a residential area.

Appointments

The Council approved appointments and reappointments to a number of advisory boards, commissions, and committees during the January 14, 2010 meeting.

Agricultural Extension District Board - James R. Mahan was appointed. - Judy Worth was reappointed.

Arboretum Advisory Committee - Chuck Ellinger was reappointed. - Michelle Kosieniak was reappointed.

Commission for Citizens with Disabilities - Matthew T. Smith was appointed.

Corridors Commission - Chuck Ellinger was appointed.

Human Rights Commission - Rabbi Marc A. Kline was reappointed. - Melanie A. Tyner-Wilson was reappointed.

Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center Board of Directors - Anissa M. Franklin was appointed.

Picnic with the Pops Commission - Thomas D. Minter was appointed.

Sister Cities Program Commission - Susan E. Carvalho Chumney was appointed.

Special Events Commission - Elizabeth N. Heichelbech was appointed.

Vacant Property Review Commission - Tom Blues was appointed. - David O'Neil was appointed. - James M. Haskins was appointed.

In total, the Council acted on 15 appointments and reappointments across 10 bodies. Notable among these, Chuck Ellinger received appointments to two separate bodies — the Arboretum Advisory Committee (reappointment) and the Corridors Commission (new appointment). The Vacant Property Review Commission saw the largest single slate of new members, with three individuals appointed at once.

Contested Items

• Fifth Third Bank Pavilion: This item generated debate among Council members, with discussion centering on the urgency of moving forward with the pavilion project and concerns about whether the public would have adequate visibility into the final design before approval. The item was decided by a split vote, though the specific vote tally and the names of members voting for or against are not available in the record. The nature of the disagreement touched on both the timeline for approval and transparency around the design process.

Invocation

0:30

Rabbi Marc Kline delivered the invocation to open the Council meeting. His remarks centered on the importance of helping those in need, with particular attention to the disaster unfolding in Haiti. No debate or discussion followed the invocation, as it served an informational and ceremonial purpose.

Approval of Minutes

5:22

The Council considered the approval of minutes from several previous meetings. No additions or corrections were raised by any members of the Council. Gorton and Crosbie were among the key speakers during this portion of the meeting. The minutes were approved as presented.

Ordinance on Series 2010A Bonds

8:17

The council took up an ordinance authorizing the issuance of Series 2010A Bonds. The item was discussed by Stinnett and James, who addressed the ordinance and amendments to the redemption language contained within it.

The council approved the ordinance as presented, including the amendments to the redemption language.

Resolution for Fire Training Structure

26:54

The council considered a resolution to accept a bid for a Live Fire Training Structure for the Division of Fire and Emergency Services.

Key speakers on this item included Ellinger and Myers, who addressed the council regarding the resolution. The council moved forward with the item without extended debate, and the resolution was approved.

No additional details regarding the specific bid amount, the vendor selected, or any concerns raised during discussion are available from the meeting record.

Resolution for Fifth Third Bank Pavilion

1:07:52

The council took up a resolution related to the construction of the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion at Cheapside Park. The item was presented with an emphasis on the urgency of moving the project forward.

Key speakers during the discussion included Blues, Gordon, and Feigel. The resolution centered on advancing construction of the pavilion, with council members addressing the need to act promptly on the matter.

The resolution was ultimately approved by the council.