Council Committee of the Whole Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on March 15, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Vice Mayor Gorton presiding. The council conducted eight votes during the session and heard seven public comments. The meeting included four first readings of ordinances and resolutions addressing traffic studies, transportation funding, emergency management staffing, and professional services for collective bargaining, as well as a second reading of an ordinance concerning community development police overtime support. Three informational presentations were also delivered, covering the Fit City Initiative by Leadership Lexington, an Environmental Quality Committee Report, and a Public Safety Committee Report.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on March 21, 2011:

• Vice Mayor Gorton
• Council Member Crosby
• Council Member Ellinger
• Council Member Beard
• Council Member Stinnett
• Council Member Henson
• Council Member Kaye
• Council Member Martin
• Council Member Ford
• Council Member Blues
• Council Member Lawless
• Council Member McCord
• Council Member Farmer
• Council Member Myers

Council Member Lane was absent from the meeting. No members arrived late.

Votes and Decisions

Police Disciplinary Hearing Continuance 4:19 Council Member Crosby moved to recommend a continuance of the police disciplinary hearing originally scheduled for 5:00 PM on March 15, 2011. Council Member Beard seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote with no objections. The hearing was rescheduled to April 26, 2011, at 5:00 PM, contingent on the mayor's availability and a quorum of 10 council members.

Police Disciplinary Hearing Date Confirmation 29:34 Council Member Kaye moved to recommend the police disciplinary hearing be held on April 26, 2011, at 5:00 PM. Council Member Blues seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote. The mayor confirmed availability, and 11 council members confirmed their attendance.

Motion to Withdraw Hearing on Motion to Dismiss 33:47 Council Member Ellinger moved to withdraw the motion to hear the motion to dismiss at 5:00 PM on March 15, 2011. Council Member Crosby seconded the motion. The motion was withdrawn after discussion on scheduling and procedural fairness.

Sheriff Witt's Report and Related Updates Referral 1:18:04 Council Member Crosby moved to recommend referral of updates on Sheriff Witt's report, E911, and jail study to the Public Safety Committee. Council Member Myers seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote with no further discussion or objections.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles Referral 1:19:41 Council Member Myers moved to refer the issue of alternative fuel vehicles to the General Government Committee. Council Member Lawless seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote with no objections raised.

Medical and Prescription Benefits Review 1:21:15 Council Member Martin moved to refer the review of medical and prescription benefits and feasibility of a consultant to the General Government Committee. Council Member Crosby seconded the motion. The motion was withdrawn after Council Member Stinnett noted that a consultant had already been hired.

Recycling Incentives Referral 1:31:08 Council Member Myers moved to refer recycling incentives to the Environmental Quality Committee. Council Member McCord seconded the motion. The motion was withdrawn after Council Member Crosby noted that the existing solid waste and recycling committee was already addressing the issue.

Environmental Quality Committee Special Meeting 2:04:43 Vice Mayor Gorton moved to schedule a special Environmental Quality Committee meeting on April 19, 2011, at 11:00 AM. Council Member Henson seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote with no objections raised.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three financial actions:

Grant Funding for Traffic Study

Ordinance 0130-26 approved $500,000 in grant funding from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for a traffic study on Short and Second Streets. The grant will support traffic modeling and includes potential expansion of the study to 3rd and 4th Streets.

Salary Appropriation

Ordinance 0120-26 authorized the use of SLX funds to shift salaries totaling $150,000 for two transportation planning positions from the general fund to grant funding. This appropriation action was taken by the Urban County Government.

Collective Bargaining Services Contract

Resolution 0073-26 approved a $60,000 contract with Mr. Crane for professional services to negotiate collective bargaining agreements for city departments.

Public Comment

Council members addressed several topics during the public comment period, including a proposed Fit City Initiative, municipal fund transparency, pension funding concerns, and community announcements.

Fit City Initiative

Council Member McCord praised the Leadership Lexington group for their Fit City project 1:47:47, encouraging the council to serve as bridge builders connecting existing health and wellness programs across the city. McCord expressed a vision to make Lexington a national destination for fitness and wellness.

Council Member Lawless voiced enthusiasm for the initiative 1:50:36, particularly highlighting the focus on affordable healthy food and small behavioral changes. Lawless shared personal motivation to begin walking daily as part of the effort.

Council Member Crosby raised questions about project sustainability 1:54:39, asking whether the initiative included partnerships with the American Heart Association and whether the project would continue beyond the Leadership Lexington class.

Municipal Governance and Finance

Council Member Farmer questioned the policy of removing council member names from the Neighborhood Development Fund list 1:36:24, arguing that the practice undermines transparency and public accountability.

Council Member Martin presented financial data regarding the police and fire pension fund 2:15:06, noting a projected shortfall that would require escalating annual contributions ranging from $15.5 million to $34 million over 20 years to avoid insolvency.

Community Announcements

Council Member Blues announced upcoming community events 2:17:32, including the All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast, the Great American Cleanup, and the Historic Western Suburb Neighborhood Association meeting.

Council Member McCord highlighted ongoing construction on Clay's Mill Road and Harrodsburg Road 2:19:06, urging residents to plan accordingly due to expected traffic disruptions.

Appointments

Mr. Crane was appointed as Contractor for Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Contested Items

The March 21, 2011 meeting included three significant areas of disagreement among council members.

Use of SLX Funds for Personnel

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the proposed use of federal road funds (SLX Funds) to cover personnel salaries. The core dispute centered on whether it was appropriate to divert funds designated for road infrastructure toward personnel costs. Some council members questioned both the principle of this funding shift and its transparency, expressing concerns about the propriety of the approach. Administration officials provided justification for the proposal, and the matter involved Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) approval requirements. However, the council remained divided on whether this represented an acceptable use of the designated federal funds.

Neighborhood Development Fund Transparency

A procedural dispute arose over the Neighborhood Development Fund (NDF) policy regarding the removal of council member names from the NDF list. Council members disagreed about whether this practice undermined public accountability and transparency. Those opposing the removal argued that keeping council member names on the list was essential for maintaining public oversight. Others defended the policy, citing compliance with NDF rules and requirements under the ethics act. The debate reflected broader concerns about balancing transparency with regulatory compliance.

Prioritization of Street Conversions

The council split on the sequencing of street conversion projects. The disagreement centered on whether to proceed with Short and Second Streets first, as part of an established phased approach, or to reconsider the priority to include Maine and Vine streets. Some council members advocated for maintaining the existing phased approach, while others argued for reevaluating priorities in light of new streetscape developments. The council was unable to reach consensus on the optimal order for proceeding with these infrastructure projects.

First Reading of Ordinance: Traffic Study on Short and Second Streets

41:20

Council conducted the first reading of an ordinance concerning a traffic study on Short and Second Streets. The discussion centered on a $500,000 grant that would fund traffic modeling and analysis for these corridors, with potential expansion to include 3rd and 4th Streets.

Key Presentations and Debate

Chris King and Irene Gooding presented information on the traffic study proposal. Council members debated the prioritization of which streets should be included in the study. Some council members, including Council Member Lawless, Council Member McCord, and Council Member Blues, advocated for the inclusion of Maine and Vine Streets in the study scope, despite those streets falling under federal jurisdiction.

Concerns and Discussion Points

The council discussion reflected disagreement over street prioritization and the geographic scope of the traffic analysis. The question of whether streets under federal jurisdiction should be included in a locally-funded study was raised as a consideration during the debate.

Process and Transparency

Proponents of the study defended the process as transparent and phased, suggesting that the approach allowed for systematic analysis and potential future expansion based on initial findings.

Outcome

The ordinance advanced to first reading. No final vote or passage was recorded at this stage, as first reading typically represents the initial introduction of proposed legislation for discussion and review before subsequent readings and final action.

First Reading of Ordinance: Use of SLX Funds for Transportation Personnel

57:26

Council reviewed a proposal to reallocate two transportation planning positions from general fund support to SLX grant funding. The shift was projected to generate $150,000 in savings.

Key Speakers and Presentation

Irene Gooding and Keith Horn presented the proposal to council members, including Council Member Stinnett and Council Member Crosby.

Issues Raised

Council members expressed concerns about the principle of using federal road funds designated for transportation purposes to support personnel costs. The discussion highlighted questions about the appropriate use of SLX grant funding and whether diverting these resources to staffing represented a sound fiscal practice.

A significant point of emphasis was the need for Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) approval before proceeding with the reallocation. Council members stressed that this approval step was necessary to move forward with the proposal.

Outcome

The ordinance advanced to first reading.

First Reading of Resolution: Division of Emergency Management Position

1:07:12

Council reviewed a resolution concerning a grant-funded position within the Division of Emergency Management. The position under consideration is temporary in nature and will be eliminated upon expiration of the grant funding that supports it.

Council members Martin and Lawless participated in the discussion of this agenda item. During the review, Council confirmed that the position is not classified as civil service and is not expected to be permanent. This clarification was an important point of discussion, as it established the temporary status of the role.

The resolution proceeded to first reading, with no indication of significant opposition or concerns raised during the discussion. The outcome of this agenda item was the first reading of the resolution, which is the initial step in the legislative process for consideration of the measure.

First Reading of Resolution: Professional Services Contract for Collective Bargaining

1:08:47

Council reviewed a professional services contract valued at $60,000 with Mr. Crane to negotiate collective bargaining agreements for city departments.

Presentation and Discussion

Leslie presented the contract proposal to the council. Mr. Crane was present during the discussion to address questions about the engagement.

Concerns Raised

Council members raised several questions regarding Mr. Crane's qualifications and experience:

• Questions were posed about Mr. Crane's professional qualifications for the role
• Council inquired about his past clients and previous work experience
• Questions were raised about the necessity and scope of the contract

Follow-Up Actions

Council Member Beard and Council Member Myers indicated that follow-up contact with Mr. Crane's previous employers would be needed to verify his background and experience before proceeding further.

Outcome

The resolution received its first reading. No final action was taken at this meeting, as additional vetting of the contractor's qualifications was deemed necessary.

Second Reading of Ordinance: Community Development Police Overtime Support

1:15:53

Council conducted the second reading of an ordinance establishing a grant-funded program to support police overtime expenses through the Community Development Police Overtime Support initiative.

Program Overview

The ordinance addresses police overtime funding through a law enforcement service fee program. The program is funded by revenue generated from alcohol patrol tickets, creating a dedicated funding stream for overtime costs specific to law enforcement operations.

Key Characteristics

The program has a limited scope:

• Funding is restricted to law enforcement overtime support
• The program is not available to other public safety divisions
• Revenue is derived from the law enforcement service fee program associated with alcohol patrol tickets

Discussion

Council Member Crosby participated in the review of this ordinance during the second reading.

Outcome

The ordinance advanced through its second reading as scheduled.

Public Comment: Fit City Initiative by Leadership Lexington

Leadership Lexington presented a comprehensive "Fit City" initiative designed to improve community health and wellness in Lexington. 1:41:15

Presentation Overview

The initiative outlined five core goals to guide the project: - Commit - Connect - Provide - Educate - Enhance - Challenge

Proposed Strategies

Leadership Lexington presented strategies to advance these goals, including: - Improving healthy food access throughout the community - Conducting media outreach to raise awareness - Making infrastructure improvements to support fitness and wellness

Key Speakers and Feedback

Jill Barnett led the presentation on behalf of Leadership Lexington. Council members participated in the discussion, including Council Member McCord, Council Member Lawless, and Council Member Crosby. The council members offered feedback and expressed support for the initiative.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action required. The presentation served to introduce the Fit City Initiative to the council and community, allowing for discussion and feedback on the proposed approach to making Lexington a healthier community.

Public Comment: Environmental Quality Committee Report

Council Member Blues presented a report from the Environmental Quality Committee meeting held on March 8, 2011. 2:02:26

Topics Covered

The committee report addressed several environmental initiatives and improvements:

• Outreach activities and community engagement efforts
• Energy initiatives and related projects
• Water quality improvements at McConnell Springs

Upcoming Meeting

The Environmental Quality Committee announced a special meeting scheduled for April 19, 2011, to discuss waste management issues.

Outcome

This was an informational presentation to the council. No formal action or debate was recorded on this agenda item.

Public Comment: Public Safety Committee Report

2:05:49

The Council received a report from the Public Safety Committee regarding matters discussed at their March 8, 2011 meeting. Council Member Lawless presented information covering three main areas of focus.

Topics Covered:

• Paramedic training initiatives
• EMS response times and performance
• Infrastructure updates on Todd's Road and Oliver Lewis Way

Committee Action:

The Public Safety Committee approved the establishment of a task force to study staffing and response issues within the emergency services department. This task force was created to address concerns related to adequate staffing levels and response time performance.

Outcome:

This agenda item was informational in nature, with the Council receiving the committee's report and the approved task force initiative.