Council Committee of the Whole Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on March 1, 2011, at 3:00pm at the Government Center, with Vice Mayor Gorton presiding. The council addressed 13 agenda items during the session, including multiple readings of ordinances and resolutions, a review of budget amendments, and a presentation on fire overtime. The council took 9 motions and votes and heard 4 public comments from citizens on issues related to the agenda. The meeting followed standard procedural order, beginning with public comment on agenda items and approval of the summary, followed by reviews of the docket and various legislative readings. In addition to the formal legislative business, the council received committee reports and council reports, and heard public comment on issues not on the agenda.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on March 1, 2011:

• Vice Mayor Gorton
• Council Member Ellinger
• Council Member Beard
• Council Member Martin
• Council Member Crosbie
• Council Member Blues
• Council Member Henson
• Council Member Lane
• Council Member Ford
• Council Member Myers
• Council Member McChord
• Council Member Lawless
• Council Member Stinnett

No council members were absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

Ordinance 065-11 9:48 Motion to table item 10 under Ordinances 1 Reading until the next Committee of the Whole meeting on March 15, 2011, moved by Council Member Martin and seconded by Council Member Beard. The motion passed by roll call vote with 10 ayes and 5 nays. Voting in favor were Council Members Ellinger, Beard, Martin, Crosbie, Blues, Henson, Lane, Ford, Myers, and McChord. Voting against were Council Members Lawless and Stinnett.

Ordinance 068-11 23:14 Motion to refer to the Thursday, March 3 Council Meeting an ordinance amending Section 2-151(b) of the Code of Ordinances to allow members of the Keep Lexington Beautiful Commission to be employed in Fayette County, moved by Council Member Henson and seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote.

Resolution 075-11 24:19 Motion to refer to the Thursday, March 3 Council Meeting a request for a multiway stop sign at Ridgecane Road and Sebastian Lane, moved by Council Member Martin and seconded by Council Member Crosbie. The motion passed by voice vote.

Resolution 077-11 25:56 Motion to remove Spotlight Lexington reimbursement from the Public Safety/Public Works Committee, moved by Council Member Crosbie and seconded by Council Member Blues. The motion passed by voice vote.

Resolution 070-11 (Fire Overtime Presentation) 44:39 Motion to extend the Fire Overtime Presentation time by 10 minutes, moved by Council Member Ellinger and seconded by Council Member Myers. The motion passed by voice vote.

Closed Session 2:19:14 Motion to go into closed session under KRS 61.810(1) for discussion of employee discipline or dismissal, moved by Council Member Lane and seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote.

Return to Open Session 2:19:50 Motion to return to open session, moved by Council Member Crosbie and seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote.

Resolution 070-11 (Fire Leadership) 2:21:23 Motion to place on the docket a resolution expressing no confidence in the current leadership of the Division of Fire, moved by Council Member Ford and seconded by Council Member Myers. The motion passed by roll call vote with 13 ayes and 0 nays. All voting members voted in favor.

Adjournment 2:22:30 Motion to adjourn, moved by Council Member Lane and seconded by Council Member Crosbie. The motion passed by voice vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed overtime costs for the Division of Fire through Resolution 070-11, which proposed an amendment of $420,000 to cover these expenses.

Public Comment

Council members made several announcements regarding community projects and events during this portion of the meeting.

Clays Mill Road Project 2:13:03

Council Member McChord announced that the Clays Mill Road project has begun construction. He invited citizens to join an email tree to receive updates on the project's progress. McChord also noted two additional infrastructure developments: Wellington Way School will go online in August, and the intersection of Harrodsburg and New Circle will be reconfigured during the summer.

Ruby Bailey Center Benefit 2:14:42

Council Member Crosbie announced a barbecue event scheduled for March 4th at the Government Center. The event will benefit the Ruby Bailey Center in Woodhill, which serves refugees and veterans.

Community Meetings and Remembrance 2:15:46

Council Member Lawless notified the council of upcoming neighborhood association meetings. He also shared news of the passing of Larry Stirr, a community figure from John's Run Walk Shop.

Stream Clean-Up and Firefighters' Recognition 2:16:18

Council Member Henson announced a stream clean-up event scheduled for April 30th, which will focus on Wolf Run and Vaughn's Branch. Henson also shared positive reflections from his attendance at the Firefighters' Awards Banquet.

Contested Items

The March 1, 2011 meeting included two major areas of contention:

Fire Department Overtime and Collective Bargaining

Council members engaged in heated discussion regarding the fire department's overtime budget, staffing shortages, and associated financial obligations. The debate centered on the financial impact of comp time and collective bargaining agreements. Several council members raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the collective bargaining process, with some calling for greater council oversight of these agreements and their budgetary consequences.

Budget Transparency and Management

Council members expressed significant frustration over the late disclosure of the fire department's overtime budget issues. Some members characterized the delayed revelation as a "conspiracy of silence" on the part of senior management. The discussion reflected broader concerns about financial planning and reporting practices, with council members calling for improved transparency and more timely communication regarding budget matters that could substantially impact municipal finances.

Public Comment – Issues on Agenda

4:01

No public comments were made on issues on the agenda during this portion of the meeting. The meeting proceeded directly to the next agenda item.

Approval of Summary

4:32

The Council considered approval of the amended summary from the February 15, 2011 meeting. The summary had been revised to include corrections to names and spelling from the previous meeting record.

Council Member Ellinger, Council Member Beard, and Mr. Farmer participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The motion to approve the amended summary passed without dissent.

Review of Docket

5:35

The Council reviewed the docket during this agenda item. Two main matters were discussed.

Council members raised questions regarding the creation of a position in the Division of Water Quality. Council Member Farmer and Council Member Martin participated in this discussion, though the specific details of their questions and concerns were not documented.

The Council also addressed the Community Corrections Policy and Procedure Manual. A motion to table this item was brought forward and passed, deferring further discussion or action on this matter to a later time.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational in nature.

First Reading of Ordinances

6:05

Council discussed the first reading of an ordinance regarding the creation of a position in the Division of Water Quality for a three-year term. The position was proposed to address flooding obligations under a consent decree.

Council Member Farmer participated in the discussion of this agenda item. No vote was taken on the ordinance during this meeting, as the item was presented for informational purposes at the first reading stage.

First Reading of Resolutions

12:39

During the first reading of resolutions, the Council reviewed a wayfinding sign program change order. Kevin Wente presented information about the project, which involved modifications to the sign program's scope or implementation.

Council Member Farmer raised concerns regarding the project's completion status and the base installation for the wayfinding signs. These concerns centered on whether the work would be finished as planned and whether the foundational installation work was proceeding appropriately.

In response, the contractor confirmed that the project completion was on track. The contractor also noted that the contract value came in at $9,000 under the second-lowest bid, indicating the project was being completed at a favorable cost relative to competing proposals.

The item was treated as informational, with no formal action taken during this first reading.

Second Reading of Ordinances

During the second reading of ordinances, no questions or motions were raised by the body. The item proceeded without discussion and was passed to the next agenda item. 17:54

Second Reading of Resolutions

15:49

During the second reading of resolutions, the Council reviewed an amendment related to the Kentucky Theater Management Group.

Council Member Henson raised questions regarding the proposed short-term extension, expressing concerns about the lack of responses to the Request for Proposal (RFP). Henson sought clarification on why alternative proposals had not been received and what the timeline looked like for the extension.

Jomsheed, representing the department, confirmed that negotiations were ongoing with the Kentucky Theater Management Group. The department indicated that discussions were still in progress regarding the terms and conditions of the potential agreement.

The item was treated as informational in nature, with no formal vote or action taken at this time. The outcome reflected the Council's intent to receive an update on the status of negotiations rather than to make a final determination on the resolution.

Review of Budget Amendments

The Council reviewed budget amendments during this agenda item, with discussion focusing on two specific funding matters. 18:29

Key Topics Discussed

Council members addressed funding for tree replacement at Masterson Station Park and food costs associated with the Sweet 16 event. A significant point of clarification emerged during the discussion: the funds for these expenditures came from donations rather than the general budget.

Key Speakers

Council Member Farmer, Council Member Stinnett, and Elizabeth McGee participated in this discussion.

Outcome

The item was handled as informational in nature, with no formal action required. The clarification regarding the source of funds—donations rather than general budget allocations—resolved the budget amendment review.

Referral of Issues by Council Members

20:48

During this agenda item, council members referred several matters to the next meeting for further consideration and action.

Items Referred:

• Amendments to the Keep Lexington Beautiful Commission ordinance
• A multiway stop sign request
• Removal of Spotlight Lexington reimbursement

Key Participants:

Council Member Henson, Council Member Martin, and Council Member Crosbie participated in this discussion.

Outcome:

The referrals were noted for informational purposes, with these items scheduled for consideration at a subsequent meeting.

Fire Overtime Presentation

Assistant Chief Mike Gribben presented a detailed overview of fire department overtime operations 27:46. The presentation addressed multiple factors affecting overtime expenditures, including staffing shortages, impacts from collective bargaining agreements, and the accumulation of compensatory time.

Key Topics Covered

The presentation examined budget trends related to overtime spending and explored how staffing levels influence overtime requirements. Gribben also discussed the implications of collective bargaining agreements on overtime practices and addressed the management of accumulated compensatory time within the department.

Participants

The discussion involved Assistant Chief Mike Gribben as the primary presenter, with participation from David Mattingly, Richard Jordan, Keith Jackson, George Wolfbrand, and Marshall Briggs.

Outcome

The presentation was informational in nature and was extended by 10 minutes beyond its originally scheduled time, indicating substantial discussion or questions from the attending members. No specific decisions or action items were recorded as outcomes from this agenda item.

Committee Reports

Council Member Myers reported on the Social Services Committee meeting. The committee discussed partner agency employee reductions, the United Way partnership, and Department of Social Services programs. 2:02:05

Council Member Blues reported on the Environmental Quality Committee meeting. The committee reviewed departmental reports and transition team findings. 2:02:05

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken.

Council Reports

2:13:03

Council members provided updates on various projects and community events during this informational segment.

Key Speakers: - Council Member McChord - Council Member Crosbie - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Henson

Topics Discussed:

The council members addressed several matters affecting the community:

• Clays Mill Rd Project: An update was provided on the status and progress of this project.
• Neighborhood Meetings: Council members announced upcoming neighborhood meetings for community engagement.
• Community Recognition: The council acknowledged the passing of a community member.

Outcome:

This agenda item was informational in nature, with council members sharing updates rather than taking formal action or votes.

Public Comment – Issues Not on Agenda

2:19:14

No public comments were made during the public comment period for issues not on the agenda. Following this segment, the meeting proceeded to closed session.