Urban County Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on October 23, 2007, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Newberry presiding. The meeting focused primarily on informational presentations and committee reports, with four agenda items covering various municipal and community topics. The Council heard presentations on corridor development, planning committee updates, a presentation from the Lexington Horsemen, and information about German Marshall Fellows. During the session, the Council conducted nine motions and votes, while receiving one public comment from a community member.

Attendance

The following council members were present at the October 22, 2007 meeting:

• Mayor Newberry
• CM Gorton
• CM Ellinger
• CM Blues
• CM Blevins
• CM James
• CM McChord
• CM Myers
• CM Stinnett
• CM Stevens
• CM Crosbie
• CM Gordon
• CM Beard
• CM Lane
• CM Crosby

Absent: • CM Moloney • CM Myers

No council members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted nine unanimous votes during the October 22, 2007 meeting, with all motions passing without opposition.

Administrative Approvals • CM Gorton motioned to approve the summary from October 16, 2007, seconded by CM Ellinger - passed unanimously 0:00 • CM Ellinger motioned to approve new business items A-N, seconded by CM Gorton - passed unanimously 0:00 • CM Blevins motioned to approve the NDF list dated October 16, 2007, seconded by CM McChord - passed unanimously 0:00

Committee Referrals • CM Ellinger motioned to place the issue of assisting the Lexington Horsemen with parking and concession issues into the Budget & Finance Committee, seconded by CM Crosbie - passed unanimously 0:00 • CM Myers motioned to place the issue of financing given to Partnered Agencies into the Budget & Finance Committee, seconded by CM Gorton - passed unanimously 0:00 • CM Stinnett motioned to place the issue of a multi-way stop at Kavanaugh and Sanibel Dr and a speed reduction into the Services Committee, seconded by CM McChord - passed unanimously 0:00 • CM Stevens motioned to place the issues of speeding on Chinoe Rd and a 4-way stop surrounding Christ the King Church into the Services Committee, seconded by CM McChord - passed unanimously 0:00

Future Business • CM James motioned to place on the docket for November 1, 2007 a resolution authorizing the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Friends of the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden, Inc., seconded by CM Lane - passed unanimously 0:00

Executive Session • CM Gorton motioned to go into closed session pursuant to KRS 61.810 (1) (c) for the purpose of discussing pending litigation matters, seconded by CM Crosbie - passed unanimously 0:00

All votes were conducted by voice vote with unanimous consent, with no recorded individual vote tallies or opposition.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several significant financial items totaling over $1.2 million in grants, purchases, and appropriations during the October 22, 2007 meeting.

Grant Awards and Donations

The largest grant award was Resolution 580-07, accepting $650,000 from the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management for construction of a tornado safe shelter at the Suburban Mobile Home Park. The Council also approved Resolution 571-07 to accept $125,320 from the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs under the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program for FY2008.

Additional grants included Resolution 579-07 accepting $112,500 from the Kentucky Department of Education for continuation programming at the Gainesway Empowerment Center and Tates Creek Elementary School. The Division of Police received a $1,000 donation through Resolution 672-07 from Wal-Mart's Safe Neighborhood Hero's Grant for the Hazardous Devices Unit.

Property Acquisitions

The Council authorized significant property purchases for the Lyric Theatre expansion project. Resolution 583-07 approved acquiring property from O.L. Hughes and Sons Mortuary for $250,000, while Resolution 584-07 authorized purchasing additional parking property from Faith Community Housing Foundation, Inc. for $45,000.

Resolution 682-07 approved the donation of property at 504 Georgetown Street from Lexington Habitat for Humanity, Inc., valued at $4,500.

Service Agreements and Amendments

Resolution 581-07 established a $50,000 Purchase of Service Agreement with the Lexington Fayette County Airport Board. The Council approved Resolution 575-07 designating various vendors as sole source suppliers for the Division of Parks and Recreation's Golf Pro Shop, though specific amounts were not specified.

Budget Amendments

Several budget amendments were approved, including Resolution 586-07 amending the Division of Human Resources budget by $23,503 and Resolution 576-07 correcting a Division of Fleet Services budget inversion of $4,259. Resolution 585-07 corrected a typographical error in Ordinance No. 205-2007 with no fiscal impact.

Resolution 573-07 approved a deed of permanent and temporary construction easement for the Star Shoot Parkway Extension Project to D. Kelly, funded from budgeted amounts.

Public Comment

The public comment period featured one speaker addressing the Council during the October 22, 2007 meeting.

0:00 Susan Harris spoke about the Lexington Horsemen and their recent transition to a new league. Harris outlined several operational challenges the team is currently facing, with particular emphasis on the financial burden of venue costs at Rupp Arena. She specifically highlighted concerns about high concession and parking costs that are impacting the organization's operations.

Harris's comments focused on the practical difficulties the Lexington Horsemen are encountering as they navigate their league change while managing the economic pressures associated with their current venue arrangements at Rupp Arena.

Contested Items

The October 22, 2007 Council meeting featured discussion regarding the financial challenges facing the Lexington Horsemen, which drew community opposition and concern.

The primary contested item centered on the Lexington Horsemen's ongoing financial difficulties, particularly related to high operational costs for concessions and parking. Community members expressed opposition to these financial challenges, raising concerns about how the increased costs might impact public access to games and the team's overall viability in the community.

The discussion highlighted tensions between the financial realities of operating the sports franchise and community expectations for affordable access to local entertainment. Residents voiced concerns that rising concession and parking costs could price out families and regular attendees, potentially reducing community engagement with the team.

The nature of the opposition appeared to focus on maintaining community access to Horsemen games while addressing the legitimate financial pressures facing the organization. The debate reflected broader concerns about balancing business sustainability with community accessibility in local sports entertainment.

The outcome of this contested discussion was not specified in the available meeting materials, though the item clearly generated sufficient community interest and opposition to warrant formal discussion during the Council session.

Corridors Committee Report

Council Member Stevens presented an update on the Corridors Committee's recent activities during the October 22, 2007 meeting 0:00.

Stevens reported that the committee has been working on several significant transportation improvement initiatives. The committee secured grants for enhancing two major roadways in the area: Versailles Road and Newtown Pike. These grants will fund improvements to these important transportation corridors.

Additionally, Stevens announced that the committee is developing plans to update the existing Nicholasville Road plan. This update represents part of the committee's ongoing efforts to address transportation needs and corridor development throughout the city.

The report was presented as an informational update to keep the full council informed of the Corridors Committee's progress on these transportation infrastructure projects. No action was required from the council on these items during this meeting.

Planning Committee Update

0:00 CM Gordon provided an informational update to the Council regarding recent Planning Committee discussions.

The Planning Committee focused on two primary topics during their recent meetings. The committee reviewed a budget amendment for the Downtown Development Authority Land Bank, examining the financial implications and proposed changes to the current budget structure.

Additionally, the committee discussed tax increment financing mechanisms, which are used to fund development projects by capturing the increased tax revenue generated from improvements in designated areas. This discussion likely related to ongoing downtown development initiatives and how the city can leverage tax increment financing to support future growth.

CM Gordon's presentation was informational in nature, providing Council members with an overview of the Planning Committee's deliberations on these financial and development matters. No formal action was taken during this agenda item, as it served to keep the full Council informed of the committee's ongoing work on downtown development financing strategies.

The update demonstrates the Planning Committee's continued focus on economic development tools and budget management for the Downtown Development Authority's land banking activities, which are important components of the city's overall development strategy.

Lexington Horsemen Presentation

0:00

Susan Harris presented to the Council on behalf of the Lexington Horsemen, providing an update on the organization's recent developments and current challenges. Harris informed the Council that the Lexington Horsemen have secured a new league affiliation, marking a significant milestone for the local sports organization.

During her presentation, Harris outlined the financial difficulties currently facing the Horsemen. She explained that the organization is experiencing budget constraints that are impacting their operations and ability to maintain their programs effectively.

To address these financial challenges, Harris made a formal request to the Council for municipal assistance in two specific areas:

• Parking support - The Horsemen are seeking help with parking arrangements for their events and activities
• Concessions assistance - The organization requested support with concession operations, which could provide additional revenue streams

Harris's presentation was informational in nature, designed to update Council members on the Horsemen's status and make them aware of the organization's needs. The presentation did not result in any immediate Council action or decisions, but served to formally communicate the Horsemen's situation to city leadership.

The new league affiliation represents a positive development for the Horsemen, potentially offering enhanced competitive opportunities and organizational structure. However, the financial pressures highlighted by Harris indicate that the organization requires community support to maintain its operations and continue serving the Lexington area.

This presentation established the groundwork for potential future discussions between the Council and the Lexington Horsemen regarding municipal support options for the organization's parking and concession needs.

German Marshall Fellows

0:00

The Lexington City Council received a presentation from German Marshall Fellows who introduced themselves and shared their experiences during their time in Lexington. The presentation was led by Ken Kerns and Scott Crosby, who served as key speakers for this informational agenda item.

The German Marshall Fellows used this opportunity to present their impressions of Lexington to the Council members. The presentation focused on their observations and experiences while participating in the fellowship program in the city.

This was an informational presentation with no formal action required from the Council. The agenda item served as an opportunity for the international fellows to engage with local government officials and share their perspectives on the community.

The presentation provided Council members with insights from the fellows' unique vantage point as international visitors observing Lexington's operations, culture, and governance structures during their fellowship period.