Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on October 11, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Gray presiding. The council addressed eight agenda items during the session, including public comment, docket approval, and summary approval. The body took 11 votes and heard 1 public comment on issues on the agenda. Among the items approved were budget amendments and new business, while a health insurance reform presentation was delivered as an informational item. The meeting also included continuing business presentations and council reports.

Attendance

Present: - Mayor Gray - Vice Mayor Gordon - Council Member Farmer - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member Beard - Council Member McChord - Council Member Blues - Council Member Stennett - Council Member Henson - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Martin - Council Member Lane - Council Member Myers - Council Member Crosby

Absent: - Council Member Crosbie

Votes and Decisions

The following motions were voted on and passed unanimously during the October 24, 2011 meeting:

Motion to place #32 under Resolutions First Reading into the Planning & Public Works Committee 0:00 - Moved by CM Farmer, seconded by VM Gorton - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to approve the docket as amended 0:00 - Moved by CM Ellinger, seconded by CM Farmer - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to place on the docket for Thursday October 13, 2011, an Ordinance redistricting the districts of the members of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council 0:00 - Moved by VM Gorton, seconded by CM Lane - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to accept the collective bargaining agreement between LFUCG and the Professional Fire Fighters 0:00 - Moved by VM Gorton, seconded by CM Myers - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to approve the NDF list 0:00 - Moved by VM Gorton, seconded by CM McChord - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to approve the summary from the September 27, 2011, meeting 8:54 - Moved by CM Beard, seconded by CM Farmer - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to approve New Business items A-N 9:25 - Moved by CM Ellinger, seconded by VM Gorton - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to approve budget amendments 10:00 - Moved by CM Farmer, seconded by CM Ellinger - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to approve the draft ordinance to Council for approval regarding sidewalk specifications and regulations 13:16 - Moved by CM Lawless, seconded by VM Gorton - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to authorize the Mayor to execute a clinical education agreement with the University of Kentucky's College of Nursing for an intern in the 8th District Council Office 2:12:05 - Moved by CM Myers, seconded by CM McCord - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Motion to move the itinerant merchant issue from Public Safety to Planning and Zoning 2:26:07 - Moved by CM Henson, seconded by CM Crosby - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included authorization for multiple contracts, purchases, and grant acceptances:

Contracts and Agreements

• Resolution 362-11: Authorization to execute Change Order No. 1 with Gooch Construction for the Dixie Pump Station and Force Main Upgrade
• Resolution 360-11: Authorization to enter into a Facility Usage Contract between Fayette County Board of Education and the LFUCG for rental of the Norsworthy Auditorium on Saturday, December 17, 2011 for the Kiddie Kapers program
• Resolution 366-11: Authorization to enter into the Purchase of Service Agreement with Bluegrass State Games, Inc. for FY12
• Resolution 355-11: Authorization to enter an agreement between the Fayette County Cooperative Extension District Board and the LFUCG for acceptance of a building and concession agreement
• Resolution 367-11: Authorization to approve an agreement with Columbia Gas to install and maintain a natural gas training simulator at the Fire Training Academy on Old Frankfort Pike at no cost to LFUCG
• Resolution 354-11: Authorization to execute agreement with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office for provisions of "Fast Track" prosecutor services under the Justice Assistance Grant - FY 2012

Purchases

• Resolution 357-11: Authorization to execute agreement with Kroger Limited Partnership, Mid South Division for flu vaccinations for all LFUCG employees at a cost not to exceed $18.00 per vaccination

Easement Releases

• Resolution 361-11: Authorization to approve a Release of Easement releasing a streetlight easement on property located at 2387 Merluna Drive
• Resolution 356-11: Authorization to approve Quitclaim Deed and Release of Easement releasing a utility easement on property located at 2010 Harrodsburg Road

Sole Source Authorization and Federal Grants

• Resolution 364-11: Authorization to accept Information Station Specialists, Inc., as a sole source for purchase of AM radio equipment and installation under the Chemical Stockpile Equipment Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)
• Resolution 365-11: Authorization to accept award of federal funds from the U.S. Department of Justice under the Cops Hiring Program
• Resolution 363-11: Authorization to accept award of federal funds from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women for continuation of the LFUCG Arrest Policies Project and execute sub-recipient agreements with partner agencies
• Resolution 359-11: Authorization to accept award of federal funds from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet under the Scenic Byways and Highways Program for the Old Frankfort Pike Corridor Management Plan and to execute agreement with Lexington-Frankfort Scenic Corridor, Inc. for project management

Public Comment

1:40

Diane Cahill presented a petition to city leaders regarding safety concerns at the North Broadway railroad underpass. She urged the city to assess and correct the dangerous low and narrow clearance at this location.

Ms. Cahill identified multiple hazards created by the clearance issue:

• Safety risks for pedestrians and bicyclists using the underpass
• Safety hazards for motorists navigating the restricted space
• Traffic disruptions that occur during flood events
• Traffic disruptions caused by trucks becoming stuck due to insufficient clearance

Her presentation called for city action to evaluate the current conditions and implement corrections to address these public safety concerns.

Appointments

The following appointment action was taken during this meeting:

• Unknown was reappointed to the position of Citizen Advocate.

Contested Items

The October 24, 2011 meeting included two areas of significant disagreement among council members.

Staffing and Outsourcing in Government Communications and IT

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding staffing practices and outsourcing decisions within government communications and IT departments. The primary concerns centered on project delays attributed to IT operations, the loss of key personnel, and the broader impact of outsourcing on service quality. Council members questioned accountability mechanisms and the effectiveness of existing communication protocols. Additionally, concerns were raised about whether employees were being assigned tasks that fell outside their areas of expertise, potentially compromising both service delivery and employee performance.

Health Insurance Reform and Employee Communication

Council members expressed significant anxiety during discussion of health insurance reform initiatives. The contested issues included the complexity of the newly proposed health plan, concerns about potential increases to employee costs, and the adequacy of the communication strategy surrounding the changes. A key point of contention was whether employees would receive personalized guidance during the enrollment process, with council members questioning whether the communication plan sufficiently addressed individual employee needs and circumstances.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

Diane Cahill addressed the council regarding safety concerns at the North Broadway railroad underpass. She highlighted the dangerous conditions created by the structure's low and narrow clearance, which poses multiple risks to the community.

Cahill outlined three primary issues with the underpass:

• Safety risks associated with the low clearance
• Traffic disruptions caused by the narrow passage
• Flooding problems in the area

The council engaged with Cahill's concerns and discussed the complexity of addressing the issue. Vice Mayor Gordon, Council Member Stennett, and Council Member McCord participated in the discussion.

A key challenge identified during the discussion was the complicated ownership structure of the underpass, which involves both R.J. Corman and CSX. This shared ownership creates coordination challenges for any potential improvements or repairs.

In response to the concerns raised, the council agreed to pursue a path forward that includes:

• Engineering assessment of the underpass
• Interagency coordination to address the issue

The outcome of this agenda item was informational in nature, with the council committing to further investigation and coordination rather than taking immediate action. The discussion established that addressing the North Broadway underpass concerns would require collaboration among multiple parties and technical expertise to develop appropriate solutions.

Docket Approval

The docket approval agenda item was skipped during this session. No motion was made regarding docket approval, and the item was not discussed.

Summary Approval

The Council approved the summary from the September 27, 2011, meeting 8:54. Council Member Myers participated in this discussion.

The approved summary included updates on partner agency funding and a recommendation to issue an RFP for a comprehensive needs assessment.

Outcome: The summary was approved.

Budget Amendments

The Council discussed and approved budget amendments during this portion of the meeting. 10:00

CM Farmer presented the amendments to the Council. The discussion included a correction to journal entry #55176. The Council approved the budget amendments with no dissent recorded.

New Business

9:25

The Council approved a series of new business items during this portion of the meeting. Council Members Ellinger and Beard were the key speakers on these matters.

The approved items encompassed authorizations for contracts, grants, and service agreements across multiple municipal areas:

• Infrastructure projects
• Public safety initiatives
• Employee benefits programs

The Council voted to approve these new business items, with all proposals moving forward as presented.

Continuing Business / Presentations

10:33

The meeting included presentations from multiple city committees and departments providing updates on ongoing initiatives and operational matters.

Committee Updates

Presentations were delivered by representatives from the following committees:

• Social Services & Community Development Committee
• Planning and Public Works Committee
• Economic Development Committee

Government Communications and Information Technology Report

A detailed staffing report was presented for the Government Communications and Information Technology department. Key speakers on this matter included Council Member Myers, Council Member Farmer, Council Member Beard, Mr. Maloney, Sheila Hupp, and Melissa Luker.

Concerns Raised

The IT presentation highlighted operational challenges, specifically:

• Project delays affecting departmental initiatives
• Staffing reductions impacting the department's capacity

These concerns were noted during the discussion of the department's current staffing levels and resource constraints.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action items resulting from the presentations. The updates provided council members with current status reports from the various committees and departments.

Health Insurance Reform Presentation

A comprehensive presentation on proposed 2012 health insurance changes was delivered by Riggs Cochran, Mike Briggs, Benji, and Jane Driscoll 56:08.

Proposed Changes

The presentation outlined a new five-plan structure featuring both PPO and HSA options for employees. A defined employer contribution of $16 million was established as part of the reform proposal. The plan structure was designed to address a significant $14 million underfunding issue identified in the 2011 health insurance budget.

Communication Strategy

A robust employee communication campaign was included as a key component of the reform initiative. This campaign was intended to inform and educate employees about the new plan options and changes to the health insurance structure.

Outcome

The agenda item was informational in nature, with the presentation serving to communicate the proposed health insurance reforms to meeting participants. No formal decisions or votes were recorded as part of this item.

Council Reports

During this agenda item, council members provided updates on several ongoing municipal matters.

Neighborhood Transition Meeting

Council members discussed an upcoming neighborhood transition meeting, though specific details about the meeting's purpose, date, or location were not detailed in the discussion.

Parking Garage Study

The council addressed an upcoming parking garage study. No additional specifics regarding the scope, timeline, or expected outcomes of this study were provided in the reports.

Road Repair Funding

Council members identified a need to appeal to the state for road repair funding. This indicates the municipality is seeking state-level financial assistance for local road infrastructure projects.

Citizen Advocate Role Transition

The council also discussed a transition related to the citizen advocate role, though the specific nature of this transition was not elaborated upon in the available information.

Key Participants

The following council members contributed to this discussion: Council Member Stennett, Council Member McCord, Council Member Martin, Council Member Blues, and Council Member Henson.

This agenda item was informational in nature, with council members sharing updates rather than taking formal action. The discussion occurred approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes into the meeting.