Urban County Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on October 30, 2007, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Newberry presiding. The council addressed six agenda items during the session, taking action on three substantive matters while receiving informational updates on three additional topics.

The council approved several key items including requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, and new business items. Additionally, members received informational presentations on three important topics: a Budget & Finance Committee update, the widening of Newtown Pike from New Circle Road to Interstate 75, and an employee benefits update.

Throughout the meeting, the council conducted six formal votes and heard from two members of the public during the public comment period. The session covered both routine administrative matters and significant infrastructure and financial issues affecting the urban county.

Attendance

All council members were present at the October 29, 2007 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Newberry • CM DeCamp • CM Blevins • CM Gorton • CM Stevens • CM James • CM Mulally • CM McCord • CM Blues • CM Beard • CM Stennett • CM Crosbie • CM Ellinger • CM Myers • CM Gordon • CM Maloney

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted six votes during the October 29, 2007 meeting, all of which passed unanimously or by voice vote.

Docket Amendment 0:00 CM DeCamp motioned to place on the docket without a public hearing an Ordinance changing the zone from a two family residential (R-2) zone to a Townhouse Residential (R-1T) zone. CM Blevins seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Docket Approval 0:00 CM Gorton motioned to approve the docket, with CM Blevins providing the second. The motion passed unanimously.

Meeting Summary Approval 0:00 CM Blevins motioned to approve the summary from October 23, 2007. CM Gorton seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Budget Amendments 0:00 CM DeCamp motioned to approve the budget amendments, seconded by CM Blevins. The motion passed unanimously.

New Business Items 0:00 CM Stevens motioned to approve new business items A-Q, with CM Ellinger seconding. The motion passed unanimously.

Amendment to New Business Item L 0:00 CM Gorton motioned to amend item L in new business, with CM Stinnett providing the second. This motion passed by voice vote.

All votes demonstrated Council consensus, with no recorded opposition or abstentions on any of the items considered. The meeting proceeded efficiently through routine administrative matters including zoning changes, budget amendments, and approval of multiple new business items.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved multiple contracts and financial agreements totaling over $1.6 million during the October 29, 2007 meeting.

Major Technology and Infrastructure Contracts: • Resolution 590-07: Standard Software Maintenance Agreement with New World Systems Corporation for $240,369 • Resolution 599-07: Engineering Services Agreement with CDP Engineers, Inc. for $260,000 • Resolution 596-07: Change Order No. 2 to Contract with GRW Engineers, Inc. for $84,000

Utility Infrastructure Agreements: • Resolution 602-07: Agreement with Kentucky Utilities regarding the West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant for $118,741 • Resolution 603-07: Agreement with Kentucky Utilities regarding the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant for $275,160 • Resolution 604-07: Reimbursement Agreement with C Brothers LLC and Hillenmeyer Properties LLC for the Lower Town Branch Sanitary Sewer Extension for $447,780.30

Service and Program Contracts: • Resolution 598-07: Agreement with Sunflower Kids, Inc. for the Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Program for $158,750 • Resolution 595-07: Purchase of Service Agreement with Simon and Company, Inc. for $36,000 • Resolution 597-07: Purchase of Service Agreement with the Kentucky Humanities Council, Inc. for $25,000

Property and Facility Agreements: • Resolution 689-07: Facility Usage Contract with the Fayette County Board of Education for $1,377.63 • Resolution 592-07: Permanent Storm Sewer, Drainage, Sanitary Sewer Easement and a Temporary Construction Easement at 226 Forest Park Road for $23,125

The largest single expenditure was the Lower Town Branch Sanitary Sewer Extension reimbursement agreement at $447,780.30, followed by the engineering services agreement with CDP Engineers at $260,000.

Public Comment

0:00

No members of the public provided comments during the public comment periods at the October 29, 2007 Council meeting.

The meeting included two designated public comment periods:

• Issues on Agenda: No public comments were made regarding any items scheduled for discussion or action during the meeting.

• Issues Not on Agenda: No public comments were made on topics outside of the meeting's formal agenda items.

Both public comment periods concluded without any speakers addressing the Council.

Contested Items

The Council meeting on October 29, 2007, featured one significant contested item that generated heated discussion among members.

Contract with GRW Engineers, Inc.

The primary point of contention involved a substantial increase in the contract amount with GRW Engineers, Inc. The contract had grown dramatically from its original amount of $128,000 to $794,188, representing more than a six-fold increase that raised serious concerns among Council members.

The heated discussion centered on two main issues: the bidding process that led to the original contract award and the management of the contract once it was in place. Council members questioned how such a significant cost overrun could occur and whether proper oversight procedures had been followed throughout the contract's execution.

The debate highlighted concerns about the city's contract management practices and the need for better controls to prevent such dramatic increases in project costs. Members expressed frustration about the lack of transparency in how the contract amount had escalated so substantially from the initial agreement.

The discussion reflected broader concerns about fiscal responsibility and the need for improved oversight mechanisms to ensure that contracts remain within reasonable bounds of their original scope and budget. The significant increase from $128,000 to nearly $800,000 represented the kind of cost overrun that could impact the city's budget and taxpayers' interests.

While the extracted data indicates this was a heated discussion, the specific outcome of the debate and any actions taken by the Council regarding this contract increase are not detailed in the available information.

Requested Rezonings / Docket Approval

0:00 The Council considered a motion to place a rezoning ordinance on the docket without requiring a public hearing. The proposed ordinance would change the zoning designation from a two-family residential (R-2) zone to a Townhouse Residential (R-1T) zone.

Council Member DeCamp and Council Member Blevins were the key speakers during the discussion of this agenda item. The motion specifically requested that the ordinance be placed on the docket through the expedited process that bypasses the typical public hearing requirement for rezoning matters.

The Council approved the motion to place the rezoning ordinance on the docket without a public hearing. This procedural vote allows the actual rezoning ordinance to move forward for future consideration by the Council.

The R-2 to R-1T zone change represents a shift from allowing two-family residential units to permitting townhouse residential development in the affected area. However, the specific location and property details of the proposed rezoning were not detailed in the available meeting materials for this agenda item.

Budget Amendments

0:00

The Council considered budget amendments during the October 29, 2007 meeting. Council Members DeCamp and Blevins were the primary speakers on this ordinance item.

The budget amendments were presented for Council approval, though the specific details of the amendments and the scope of the budgetary changes were discussed during the meeting proceedings. The item was structured as an ordinance requiring formal Council action.

Following discussion by the Council members, the budget amendments were approved by the Council.

*Note: Additional details about the specific nature of the budget amendments, dollar amounts involved, and departmental allocations would require access to the full meeting transcript and supporting documentation.*

New Business Items

0:00

The Council addressed a comprehensive slate of new business items labeled A through Q during the October 29, 2007 meeting. Council Members Stevens and Ellinger were the primary speakers during the discussion of these ordinance items.

The agenda included seventeen separate new business items spanning from Item A to Item Q. While the specific details of each individual item were not elaborated in the available materials, the items were presented as a collective group of ordinances requiring Council consideration and action.

CM Stevens and CM Ellinger led the discussion on these new business items, though the specific nature of their comments and any particular concerns raised during deliberation were not detailed in the meeting summary.

Following the discussion, the Council moved to approve all new business items A through Q. The approval encompassed the full range of seventeen items that had been presented for consideration.

The outcome of this agenda item was the successful approval of all new business items A-Q, indicating unanimous or majority support from the Council for the proposed ordinances. This represented a significant volume of legislative business conducted during the meeting, with seventeen separate items receiving Council approval in a single action.

Budget & Finance Committee Update

0:00 CM Dr. Stevens presented an update on the activities of the Budget & Finance Committee during the October 29, 2007 Council meeting.

The committee update covered ongoing audits and budget reviews being conducted by the committee. Dr. Stevens provided Council members with information about the committee's recent work and current priorities.

This was an informational presentation with no action items requiring Council votes. The update served to keep all Council members informed about the Budget & Finance Committee's activities and progress on financial oversight matters.

No specific concerns were raised during this agenda item, and no further discussion or debate occurred following Dr. Stevens' presentation.

Widening of Newtown Pike from New Circle Road to Interstate 75

0:00

Robert Nunley from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Office 7 (KYTC-DO7) presented plans for the widening of Newtown Pike from New Circle Road to Interstate 75. The presentation outlined proposed traffic and safety improvements for this corridor.

Nunley provided details on the scope of the widening project, which aims to address traffic congestion and enhance safety along this section of Newtown Pike. The presentation covered the planned improvements and their expected impact on traffic flow in the area.

This was an informational presentation to update the Council on the status and details of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's plans for this major roadway improvement project. No formal action was taken by the Council, as this item served to keep members informed about the state-led infrastructure project affecting the Lexington area.

Employees Benefits Update

0:00 Michael Allen presented an update on employee benefits during the October 29, 2007 Council meeting. The presentation covered changes to the city's medical and dental plans for employees.

Allen provided details on new medical and dental plan options that would be available to city staff. The update was informational in nature, designed to keep the Council informed about modifications to employee benefit packages.

The presentation served as a briefing for Council members on the current state of employee benefits and any adjustments being made to ensure competitive compensation packages for city workers. No action was required from the Council as this was purely an informational update.

The discussion concluded without any formal decisions or votes, as the item was presented for informational purposes only.