Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council held a meeting on February 28, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center. Mayor Gray presided over the session, which included 10 agenda items and 5 motions and votes. The council heard 2 public comments during the meeting, including one period for comments on issues listed on the agenda and another for issues not on the agenda. The meeting covered a range of business including requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, council reports, and the mayor's report. The council approved the summary of the previous meeting, took action on new business, and voted to adjourn.

Attendance

Present: - Mayor Gray - CM Ellinger - CM Myers - CM Stinnett - CM Henson - CM Kay - CM Martin - CM Blues - CM Lawless - CM Ford - CM Farmer - CM Beard - CM Wallace - Vice Mayor Gorton

Absent: - CM Crosbie - CM Lane - CM Martin - CM Ford

Late: None recorded

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included five votes, all of which passed unanimously.

Approval of the February 21, 2012 Work Session Summary 2:35 Motion by CM Beard, seconded by VM Gorton. This motion passed unanimously with all 14 members voting in favor: Mayor Gray, CM Ellinger, CM Myers, CM Stinnett, CM Henson, CM Kay, CM Martin, CM Blues, CM Lawless, CM Ford, CM Farmer, CM Beard, CM Wallace, and VM Gorton.

Approval of New Business Items 3:35 Motion by CM Ellinger, seconded by CM Myers. This motion passed unanimously with all 14 members voting in favor.

Approval of the NDF List 4:08 Motion by CM Ellinger, seconded by CM Myers. This motion passed unanimously with all 14 members voting in favor.

Approval of the Mayor's Report 54:07 Motion by CM Beard, seconded by CM Henson. This motion passed unanimously with all 14 members voting in favor.

Adjournment 1:03:56 Motion by CM Stinnett, seconded by CM McChord. This motion passed unanimously with all 14 members voting in favor.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several financial actions related to user fee billing and collection services:

User Fee Billing and Collection Services Contract A contract valued at $2.3 million was approved with Greater Cincinnati Water Works for user fee billing and collection services.

RFP Consultant Fee Amendment An amendment of $10,000 was approved for consultant fees associated with the RFP (Request for Proposal) process for the user fee billing and collection project.

Project Management Services Amendment An amendment of $420,000 was approved for project management services related to the user fee billing and collection project.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center during the public comment period.

Patricia Muhammed spoke during the scheduled public comment on the agenda regarding the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center 2:04. She expressed concerns about the facility's future and development.

Corey Dunn also provided public comment not on the agenda, reiterating concerns about the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center 2:04. His remarks aligned with the earlier comments made during the meeting.

Contested Items

User Fee Billing and Collection Transition

Council members engaged in heated discussion regarding the transition to a new vendor for user fee billing and collection. The primary concerns centered on increased costs associated with the vendor change and questions about collection rates. Council members objected to the lack of a convenience fee discount for electronic payments, noting that citizens would bear additional expenses for using electronic payment methods. Some council members challenged the necessity of paying more for a new vendor and criticized the city's reliance on external providers, characterizing this dependence as a loss for citizens.

Funding for New Firefighter Class

Council Member Martin raised significant objections to the approval of a new firefighter class, expressing alarm over the lack of a clear funding plan and the absence of a pension cost analysis. Martin warned that proceeding without these critical assessments would result in long-term financial strain on the city and characterized the decision as irresponsible. This dispute reflected broader concerns about fiscal planning and the long-term budgetary implications of personnel decisions.

Public Comment – Issues on Agenda

2:04

A public comment session was opened for issues on the agenda. No members of the public signed up to speak during this portion of the meeting. The session proceeded without any remarks or public input.

Requested Rezonings / Docket Approval

2:04

No requested rezonings or docket items were presented for approval during this session.

Approval of Summary

2:35

The Council approved the summary of the February 21, 2012 Work Session without dissent. Council Member Beard made the motion to approve the summary, and Vice Mayor Gorton seconded the motion. The summary was adopted with no opposition.

Budget Amendments

No budget amendments were presented for discussion or approval during this session. 3:05

New Business

3:35

The Council approved a series of new business items during this agenda section. The matters under consideration included contract approvals, vendor agreements, and ordinance amendments related to fire and emergency services, user fees, and the Lyric Theatre.

Council Member Ellinger made the motion to approve the new business items, which was seconded by Council Member Myers. The motion passed with approval.

Continuing Business / Presentations

4:08

This agenda item included several presentations and updates to the body.

Presentations Covered

The session featured presentations from the Social Services & Community Development Committee and updates regarding the NDF list. The primary focus was a detailed overview of the user fee billing and collection system transition.

User Fee Billing and Collection System

Bill O'Mara led an extensive presentation on the user fee billing and collection system. The presentation addressed multiple aspects of the transition, including billing models, collection rates, and electronic payment options. The presentation generated substantial discussion, with participants asking detailed questions about the implementation and operational details of the new system.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Bill O'Mara as the primary presenter, along with Commissioner Driscoll and CM Myers, who participated in the question-and-answer portion of the presentation.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, providing the body with updates and detailed information on ongoing initiatives and system transitions rather than requiring a formal decision or action.

Council Reports

During this informational segment, council members provided updates on upcoming public meetings and community engagement activities.

Council members announced several upcoming public meetings, including sessions focused on Constitution Pool, Southland NA, and the Lyric Theater. These announcements were made to inform the public of opportunities to participate in discussions regarding these community facilities and initiatives.

Council Member Myers reported on recent district meetings and community engagement efforts, highlighting ongoing work to connect with constituents and address community concerns.

The following council members participated in the reports: CM Stinnett, CM Henson, CM Kay, CM Martin, CM Blues, CM Wallace, CM Ford, CM Myers, CM Farmer, and CM Beard.

This segment served an informational purpose, allowing council members to share updates with the public and each other regarding community events and engagement activities.

Mayor's Report

No Mayor's Report was presented or discussed during this session. 54:07

Public Comment – Issues Not on the Agenda

54:07

No public comments were made on issues not on the agenda during this session.

Adjournment

The council session was adjourned following a motion by CM Stinnett and a second by CM McChord 1:03:56. The motion passed with no opposition.