Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on February 14, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Gray presiding. The council addressed 11 agenda items during the session, taking 10 votes and hearing 4 public comments from constituents. The meeting included both action items and informational presentations, with the council approving several matters including requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, and new business items. Informational updates were provided on the Downtown Lexington Corporation (DLC), corrections collective bargaining negotiations, and council and mayoral reports. Public comment periods were held both for issues on the agenda and for matters not listed on the agenda.

Attendance

Present: - Mayor Gray - Vice Mayor Gorton - Councilmember Ellinger - Councilmember Beard - Councilmember Blues - Councilmember Martin - Councilmember Mason - Councilmember Hancock - Councilmember Hamilton - Councilmember Bastin - Councilmember Driskell - Councilmember Jackson - Councilmember McChord - Councilmember Myers - Councilmember Lawless - Councilmember Crosbie - Councilmember Henson - Councilmember Farmer - Councilmember Stinnett - Councilmember Jarvis - Councilmember Mills - Councilmember Nugent - Councilmember Moloney - Councilmember Crouse - Councilmember Lane - Councilmember Wallace

Absent: - Councilmember Crosbie - Councilmember Henson

Late: None reported

Votes and Decisions

Ordinance 0130-26 – Amend Article 39, Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances to add Bluegrass Community and Technical College representation to the Town & Gown Commission. Motion by Vice Mayor Gorton, seconded by Councilmember Lawless. Passed unanimously. 6:36

Resolution 0073-26 – Approve the amended docket for the February 16, 2012 Council Meeting. Motion by Councilmember Ellinger, seconded by Councilmember Blues. Passed unanimously. 7:06

Resolution 0074-26 – Approve the summary of the February 7, 2012 Work Session. Motion by Councilmember Myers, seconded by Vice Mayor Gorton. Passed unanimously. 11:28

Resolution 0075-26 – Approve budget amendments. Motion by Councilmember Myers, seconded by Councilmember Beard. Passed unanimously. 12:12

Resolution 0076-26 – Approve new business items including agreements with Sprint, Open Portal Solutions, and others. Motion by Councilmember Beard, seconded by Councilmember Ellinger. Passed by roll call vote with 24 ayes and 3 nays. Voting in favor: Mayor Gray, Vice Mayor Gorton, Councilmembers Ellinger, Beard, Blues, Martin, Mason, Hancock, Hamilton, Bastin, Driskell, Jackson, McChord, Myers, Lawless, Crosbie, Henson, Farmer, Stinnett, Jarvis, Mills, Nugent, Moloney, and Crouse. Voting against: Councilmembers Stinnett, Farmer, and Myers. 16:39

Resolution 0077-26 – Approve the NDF list. Motion by Councilmember Ellinger, seconded by Councilmember Myers. Passed unanimously. 17:43

Resolution 0078-26 – Approve the motion to place the hotel-motel tax review into the Budget & Finance Committee. Motion by Councilmember Stinnett, seconded by Councilmember McChord. Passed unanimously. 43:27

Resolution 0079-26 – Place the issue of backyard paving and parking in R1/R2 zones of infill and redevelopment area into the Planning & Public Works Committee. Motion by Councilmember Lawless, seconded by Vice Mayor Gorton. Passed unanimously. 52:43

Resolution 0080-26 – Approve the Mayor's Report. Motion by Councilmember Crosbie, seconded by Vice Mayor Gorton. Passed unanimously. 1:02:19

Resolution 0081-26 – Adjourn the Work Session. Motion by Vice Mayor Gorton, seconded by Councilmember McChord. Passed unanimously. 1:03:20

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting on February 14, 2012 included approval of numerous contracts, grants, and financial agreements:

Contracts and Professional Services

• RCC Consultants received a technical consultant contract extension valued at $55,000 for police radio system RFP work (Resolution 0076-26)
• CDP Engineers, Inc. was contracted for engineering services on the Coldstream Park Stream Corridor Restoration and Preservation project (L148-12)
• Seven Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners were engaged under Professional Service Agreements for the FY 2012 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (L141-12)
• Tactical Energetic Entry System, LLC was contracted to provide Dynamic Entry Training within the Division of Police (L152-12)
• Open Portal Solutions was authorized to provide software services to modify and enhance Division of Police software (L122-12)
• PFM Asset Management, LLC was engaged for Treasury Consulting Services to conduct an RFP and selection process for primary banking services (LO81-12)
• GRW, Inc. was approved for Consultant Service Agreement providing engineering design services on elevators in the Phoenix Building and Police Headquarters (LO85-12)
• Sonitrol of Lexington, Inc. was contracted for alarm system improvements at the Technical Services Unit facility (LO91-12)
• Sprint was authorized to execute an agreement under WSCA Wireless Communication services and equipment master price agreement (L283-11)
• Fayette County Board of Education was contracted for facility usage of Winburn Middle School Gymnasium for the Winburn Community Center Learning program (LO83-12)
• Madison County Emergency Medical Services was engaged under a Paramedic Training Agreement with the Division of Fire and Emergency Services (LO95-12)

Grants and Community Agreements

• Hartland Homeowners Association, Inc. received two Class A Incentive Grant Award Agreements funded by Water Quality Management Fee (L143-12 and L144-12)
• Board of Education of Fayette County received Class B Incentive Grants funded by Water Quality Management Fee (L147-12)
• Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association, Inc. was approved for a Class A Incentive Grant funded by Water Quality Management Fee (LO82-12)

Additional Authorizations

• A Memorandum of Agreement with Lexington and Fayette County Parking Authority addressed transfer, management, repair, and operation of parking facilities (L142-12)
• An amendment transferred one Equipment Operator P/T position from Division of Family Services to Division of Youth Services (L138-12)
• Authorization was granted to accept a donation of multi court X-change wheelchair and Spinergy Sport Wheels (L137-12)
• Multiple right of way and easement acquisitions were approved for public improvement projects
• Thermo Fisher Scientific was approved as sole source vendor for Division of Fire and Emergency Services equipment under the 2011 State Homeland Security Grant Program (L158-12)
• An Assistance Amendment to an EPA award for the South Elkhorn Pump Station project was executed (LO71-12)
• Authorization was granted to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice for the Intellectual Property Theft Enforcement Program (LO98-12)
• An Agreement with Kentucky Office of Homeland Security was executed for continuation of a communications grant project (LO84-12)

Public Comment

Several speakers addressed the Council during this meeting, offering thanks, appreciation, and personal congratulations.

SCORE Funding Recognition 0:00 John Darnell, a volunteer with SCORE, thanked the Council for funding provided to their organization and offered contact information for future inquiries.

Downtown Lexington Corporation Transition 29:10 Councilmember Crouse expressed gratitude for the successful transition of major city events to the Downtown Lexington Corporation. He acknowledged his earlier skepticism about the transition and praised the smooth execution of the events under the new management.

Skate Park Development 1:00:08 Councilmember McCord praised the Friends of the Skate Park for their work on the project. He challenged the group to elevate their vision, emphasizing that they have a unique opportunity to build a legacy park with community input.

Personal Congratulations 1:02:19 Councilmember Wallace congratulated Councilmember Ford and his wife on the birth of their son, noting the baby weighed seven pounds, 14 ounces.

Appointments

Derek Paulsen was appointed to serve as Planning Commissioner.

Contested Items

Parking Authority Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

Councilmember Farmer raised procedural concerns about the Parking Authority Memorandum of Agreement, objecting that it had been blue-sheeted before receiving Council input. Farmer characterized this action as premature and improper. Councilmember Stinnett also opposed the item, citing a lack of updated information necessary for informed decision-making. Despite these objections, the MOA ultimately passed by roll call vote.

Hotel-Motel Tax Review

The motion to place the hotel-motel tax review into the Budget & Finance Committee passed unanimously. However, during discussion, Councilmember Beard suggested expanding the scope of the review to include a rental car tax study. This proposal was declined in order to avoid confusion and keep the review focused on its original scope.

Public Comment — Issues on Agenda

0:00

John Darnell of SCORE addressed the Council during the public comment period. He expressed gratitude for the Council's funding support and provided contact information for those wishing to reach out with inquiries.

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal debate or action items resulting from the public comment.

Requested Rezonings / Docket Approval

6:36

The Council approved an ordinance amending the Town & Gown Commission representation to include Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Vice Mayor Gorton and Councilmember Lawless were the key speakers on this agenda item.

The ordinance was approved with no opposition from Council members.

Approval of Summary

11:28

The Council approved the summary of the February 7, 2012 Work Session without discussion or dissent. Councilmember Myers and Vice Mayor Gorton were the key speakers on this agenda item. The summary was adopted by resolution with no objections raised during the meeting.

Budget Amendments

The Council considered budget amendments as a resolution item during the meeting. 12:12

Councilmember Myers moved to approve the budget amendments. The measure proceeded without discussion or dissent from the Council, and was approved.

New Business

16:39

The Council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting. Key speakers included Councilmembers Beard, Ellinger, Stinnett, Martin, and Farmer.

The Council approved a series of new business agreements and items, including:

• An agreement with Sprint
• An agreement with Open Portal Solutions
• Additional items requiring Council approval

Voting Results:

The new business items were approved with the following exceptions:

• Three Council members voted against a parking-related item
• One Council member voted against a radio system extension

The overall outcome for the new business agenda item was approval, though the dissenting votes on specific components reflect differing perspectives among Council members regarding the parking matter and the radio system extension proposal.

NDF List

The Council considered the NDF List as agenda item 6 17:43. Councilmember Ellinger moved to approve the list, and the Council voted to approve it without discussion or dissent.

Outcome: The NDF List was approved.

Downtown Lexington Corporation (DLC) Update

Renee Jackson of the Downtown Lexington Corporation presented an update on the organization's activities and plans 18:14.

2011 Accomplishments

Jackson highlighted several successful initiatives completed during 2011, including the transfer of events and sponsorships. The presentation emphasized cost-saving measures that the organization had implemented during the year.

2012 Outlook

The presentation included the DLC's outlook and plans for 2012, building on the foundation established in the previous year.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action or debate recorded.

Corrections Collective Bargaining Update

Ed Gardner presented an update on the new corrections collective bargaining agreement 29:45. The presentation highlighted key financial and operational benefits of the agreement.

Key Points Presented:

• The agreement is projected to generate $1.2 million in savings over four years
• The deal is expected to improve labor peace within the corrections department

Outcome:

This item was presented for informational purposes, with no formal action required.

Council Reports

During the Council Reports section, councilmembers presented updates and raised several matters for committee consideration.

Key Actions

Two motions were brought forward and approved unanimously:

• A motion to place the hotel-motel tax review into the relevant committee
• A motion to place backyard paving issues into the relevant committee

Speakers

The following councilmembers participated in this segment:

• Councilmember Stinnett
• Vice Mayor Gorton
• Councilmember Blues
• Councilmember Lawless
• Councilmember McCord
• Councilmember Myers

Outcome

Both motions passed unanimously, directing the hotel-motel tax review and backyard paving issues to their respective committees for further consideration and analysis.

43:27

Mayor's Report

The Council considered the Mayor's Report as agenda item 10 during the meeting. 1:02:19

Councilmember Crosbie moved to approve the report. Vice Mayor Gorton was also present during this item.

The Council approved the Mayor's Report without discussion or dissent. No concerns were raised and no debate occurred on this agenda item.

Public Comment — Issues not on the agenda

1:03:20

No public comments were submitted during the open comment period for issues not on the agenda.