Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council held a meeting on September 15, 2011, at 6:00 P.M. in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice-Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The council addressed three agenda items during the session, including informational updates on the Tates Creek Road Sidewalk Project and the Downtown Streetscape Project, as well as approval of a Musical Invocation. The council took six motions and votes and heard four public comments during the meeting.

Attendance

Present: Linda Gorton, Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Farmer, Ford, Henson, Kay, and Lane

Absent: Lawless

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The Council held six votes during this meeting, all of which passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays.

Musical Talent Showcase 30:14 Motion by McChord, seconded by Myers, to set aside 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. before Council Meetings to showcase local Lexington musical talent. Passed unanimously.

Moment of Silence or Invocation 42:12 Motion by McChord, seconded by Myers, to have at least a moment of silence or an Invocation after the roll call at each Council Meeting. Passed unanimously.

Ordinances Given Second Reading 46:34 Motion by Blues, seconded by Lane, to approve ordinances given second reading. Passed by roll call vote 14-0. All members voted in favor: Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Farmer, Ford, Gorton, Henson, Kay, and Lane.

Resolutions Given Second Reading 1:06:11 Motion by Ellinger, seconded by Stinnett, to approve resolutions given second reading. Passed by roll call vote 14-0. All members voted in favor: Martin, McChord, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Farmer, Ford, Gorton, Henson, Kay, and Lane.

Police Staffing Report 1:05:37 Motion by Henson, seconded by Martin, to place into public safety a staffing report by police. Passed unanimously.

Special Council Meeting 2:07:17 Motion by Kay, seconded by McChord, to set a special council meeting on September 20th at 3:00 p.m. Passed unanimously.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting on September 15, 2011 included approval of the following financial actions:

Employee Health Services Contract

An agreement with Marathon Health, Inc. was approved to provide employees with preventative, wellness, disease management, health consultation, and primary care services. The contract amount is $1,370,886.

Drug Testing Reagents Purchase

A contract with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc. was approved for the purchase of drug testing reagents in the amount of $230,000.

Environmental Grant

A grant from the Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $200,000 was approved for a Brownfields Assessment Project.

Public Comment

Four members of the public addressed the meeting with concerns spanning municipal services, infrastructure, and community issues.

Parks Department Management 2:53:21

Donald Newman expressed dissatisfaction with the Parks Department, citing unaccounted revenue streams and mismanagement at Meadowbrook.

Traffic and Zoning Compliance 2:56:40

Bernard McCarthy raised concerns about traffic lane changes and sought clarification on zoning compliance permits and the North Lexington Gateway Plan.

Community Projects and Events 2:58:52

Gwen Summers discussed multiple issues including a memorial project, a personal incident with law enforcement, and concerns about the Roots and Heritage Festival.

Abandoned Property Safety 3:03:22

Henry Kenyon spoke on behalf of a friend regarding an abandoned property on Jupiter Drive that poses safety concerns.

Appointments

The following appointments and reappointments were made:

• Dana G. Walton-Macaulay was appointed to the CASA Board
• Jane Bennington was appointed to the CASA Board
• Ronald Tritschler was reappointed to the Convention & Visitor's Bureau Board of Directors
• Ryan A. Stanton was appointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board
• Lawrence T. Smith was appointed to the Library Board of Advisors

Contested Items

The September 15, 2011 meeting included two contentious discussions:

Marathon Health Contract Approval

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding approval of a Marathon Health contract. The primary concern centered on the process and timing of the request. Council members expressed frustration about the lack of prior information before being asked to approve the contract, indicating they felt unprepared to make an informed decision on the matter.

Police Staffing and Promotions

A second heated discussion focused on police staffing and promotions. Council members raised concerns about how planned promotions would impact patrol staffing levels. In response to these concerns, council members requested that a plan be developed to address existing vacancies created by or related to the promotional changes.

Tates Creek Rd. Sidewalk Project Update

Keith Lovan provided an update on the Tates Creek Rd. Sidewalk Project 11:25. The presentation covered funding, project scope, and the current status of the initiative.

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes, with no formal action or decision required from the meeting attendees.

Downtown Streetscape Update

George Milligan presented an update on the Downtown Streetscape Project 18:53. The presentation covered the current status of the project, including timelines, costs, and upcoming work phases.

This was an informational presentation with no formal action or decision required from the meeting participants.

Musical Invocation

1:02

Gail Wynters and Sons performed a musical invocation at the meeting. Following the performance, a proclamation was presented declaring September 15, 2011, as "Gail Wynters and Sons Day." The proclamation was approved.