Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on August 26, 2010, at 7:00 P.M. in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice-Mayor Gray presiding over the session. The meeting addressed a total of five agenda items, all of which were approved, covering a range of municipal matters including zoning changes, a contract addendum, a code amendment, and a budget amendment. Over the course of the meeting, five votes were taken and one public comment was heard. No presentations were recorded as part of the session's structured data.

Attendance

All 15 council members were present at the August 26, 2010 meeting. No members were absent or late.

Present: Gray, Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Feigel, and Gorton.

Votes and Decisions

Five votes were taken during the August 26, 2010 Council meeting.

• Remove ad valorem tax ordinances from docket 0:06: Moved by Lane, seconded by Gorton, the Council voted unanimously (15–0) to remove items 3, 4, 5, and 6 under second reading ordinances — all relating to ad valorem property taxes — and place them on the docket for second reading at a special meeting on August 31, 2010. All 15 members voted in favor: Gray, Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Feigel, and Gorton.

• Schedule special meeting on August 31, 2010 0:06: Also moved by Lane and seconded by Gorton, the Council voted unanimously (15–0) to schedule a special meeting of the Urban County Council at 3:00 p.m. on August 31, 2010, for the purpose of giving second reading to the four ad valorem property tax ordinances. The same 15 members voted in favor.

• Approve second reading ordinances 0:15: Moved by Blues, seconded by Myers, the Council approved by roll call vote (15–0) the ordinances given second reading. All 15 members — Gray, Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Feigel, and Gorton — voted in favor.

• Remove item 13 from docket and rebid the project 1:31: Moved by Beard, seconded by Ellinger, the Council voted 11–3 by roll call to remove item 13 from the docket and rebid the project. Voting in favor were Gray, Henson, Lane, Lawless, Martin, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Ellinger, and Gorton. Voting against were James, Lawless, and Blues. One member abstained.

• Table resolution regarding Mr. Sellers 2:43: Moved by Ellinger, seconded by Feigel, the Council voted 14–0 by roll call to table the resolution regarding Mr. Sellers until Tuesday's work session. Voting in favor were Gray, Henson, James, Lane, Lawless, Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Feigel, and Gorton. One member abstained and no members voted against.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several financial actions at the August 26, 2010 meeting, covering a range of municipal services and infrastructure projects.

• Resolution 005 authorized the purchase of a replacement siren for the Division of Emergency Management/911 from Federal Signal Corporation at a cost of $22,467.

• Resolution 010 approved a contract with Schroeder Construction, Inc. for the Beverly Ave. Sanitary Sewer Project in the amount of $672,135, representing the largest single expenditure on the agenda.

• Resolution 019 approved an amendment to an existing agreement with Architectural Graphics, Inc. for the LFUCG Wayfinding Program, valued at $5,227.79.

• Resolution 023 authorized a consulting services contract with Metaformers, Inc. in the amount of $105,709.60 to support open enrollment administration for employee benefits.

• Resolution 033 approved an amendment to a contract with Bluegrass Contracting Corp. for the Vaughn's Branch Flood Hazard Mitigation Project in the amount of $26,657.50.

In total, the financial actions approved at this meeting amounted to approximately $832,197.89 across purchases, new contracts, and contract amendments.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period of the August 26, 2010 meeting.

• Keith Horn spoke in support of Bruce Solly, offering remarks about Solly's integrity and character. Horn indicated that Solly had been subjected to criticism he considered unfair, and used his public comment time to defend Solly's reputation. 2:44:30

No other public comments were recorded for this meeting.

Appointments

The Council approved the following appointments at the August 26, 2010 meeting:

• Thomas H. Glover was appointed to the Board of Adjustment.
• Chanté A. Perryman was appointed to the Explorium Board.
• Daryl W. Smith was appointed to the Housing Authority Board.
• Natalie Barrett was appointed to the Human Rights Commission.
• Carla Blanton was appointed to the Planning Commission.

A total of five individuals were appointed across five separate boards and commissions. The appointments span a range of municipal bodies, including land use oversight (Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission), housing policy (Housing Authority Board), civil rights enforcement (Human Rights Commission), and community programming (Explorium Board).

Contested Items

Two items generated significant debate during the August 26, 2010 Council meeting.

Rebidding of the Distillery District Project [timestamp: not available]

The Council was divided over whether to rebid the Distillery District Project. Discussion centered on concerns about the procurement process and the associated costs of rebidding. The motion to rebid ultimately passed, though the vote was split among Council members, reflecting the lack of consensus on how to proceed with the project.

Contract with Terry Sellers [timestamp: not available]

A heated discussion arose over a contract involving Terry Sellers. Council members raised questions about Sellers' authority and the scope of his representation under the contract. The debate was substantive enough that the Council did not reach a resolution during the meeting, and the matter was tabled for further discussion at a later date.

Ordinance changing the zone from B-5P to B-1

15:12

The Council took up an ordinance to rezone a property located at 1875 Pleasant Ridge Dr. from an Interchange Service Business (B-5P) zone to a Neighborhood Business (B-1) zone.

Key speakers on this item were Blues and Myers. The ordinance was ultimately approved by the Council.

*Note: The available record does not include detailed discussion, debate, or specific concerns raised during this agenda item beyond the rezoning action itself.*

Ordinance Changing the Zone from I-1 to B-3

15:12

The Council took up an ordinance to rezone a property located at 635 E. New Circle Rd. from a Light Industrial (I-1) zone to a Highway Service Business (B-3) zone.

Key speakers on this item were Blues and Myers. The structured record does not detail the specific arguments or concerns raised during deliberation, but the item was brought forward as a formal ordinance for Council consideration.

• Property address: 635 E. New Circle Rd.
• Rezoning request: I-1 (Light Industrial) → B-3 (Highway Service Business)
• Outcome: The ordinance was approved.

Contract Addendum with Lexington-Fayette County Health Dept.

15:12

The Council considered an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a Contract Addendum with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department to accept additional funding for the Home Network Project.

Key speakers on this item were Blues and Myers. The ordinance was presented as a straightforward measure to formalize the acceptance of additional funding through an addendum to an existing contract with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, directing those funds toward the Home Network Project.

The Council approved the ordinance.

Amendment to the Code of Ordinances

15:12

The Council took up Agenda Item 13, an ordinance to amend Section 23-5(b) of the Code of Ordinances. The proposed change would abolish one position of Police Captain and create in its place one position of Police Lieutenant.

Key speakers on this item were Blues and Myers. The ordinance was approved by the Council.

• Ordinance purpose: Amend Section 23-5(b) of the Code of Ordinances
• Specific change: Abolish one Police Captain position; create one Police Lieutenant position
• Key speakers: Blues, Myers
• Outcome: Approved

Amendment to Budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government

15:12

The Council took up Agenda Item 14, an ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures.

• Key speakers: Blues and Myers participated in the discussion of this item.
• Outcome: The ordinance was approved by the Council.

No additional details regarding specific budget figures, departmental allocations, or points of debate were recorded in the available meeting data for this item.