Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on March 20, 2012, under the presiding leadership of Vice Mayor Gorton. During the meeting, the Council addressed eight agenda items, including public comment periods both on and off the agenda, and took 32 motions and votes. The Council heard 11 public comments from members of the community regarding issues both related and unrelated to the agenda items under consideration.

The meeting resulted in several approvals, including the approval of requested rezonings and docket items, approval of a summary, approval of budget amendments, and approval of new business and continuing business items. In addition to these substantive actions, the Council received informational reports from staff and heard presentations during the continuing business portion of the meeting.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on March 20, 2012:

• Vice Mayor Gorton
• CM Blues
• CM Ellinger
• CM Lawless
• CM Lane
• CM Farmer
• CM Martin
• CM Henson
• CM McChord
• CM Beard
• CM Crosbie
• CM Ford
• CM Stinnett
• CM Myers
• CM Kay
• CM Mason
• CM Mills
• CM Crowe
• CM Driscoll

No members were absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

Procedural Motions

The council passed several procedural motions by voice vote. CM Blues moved to place Ordinance 10 under first reading without a public hearing, seconded by CM Ellinger [0:08:54]. CM Lawless moved to amend 48.4-2011 to remove Michael Peabody and appoint Kate Savage as 3rd District representative on the Citizens' Advocate Search Committee, seconded by CM Lane [0:10:06].

CM Beard moved to place a resolution on the docket initiating ZOTA to amend notice requirements for Board of Adjustment hearings and include neighborhood or homeowner associations, seconded by CM Myers [0:11:47]. This motion passed by roll call vote with 14 ayes and 1 nay. CM Martin voted against the motion. All other council members voted in favor: CM Blues, CM Ellinger, CM Lawless, CM Lane, CM Farmer, CM Henson, CM McChord, CM Crosbie, CM Ford, CM Stinnett, CM Myers, and CM Kay.

CM Ellinger moved to approve the docket as amended, seconded by CM Myers [0:14:09]. The council also approved corrections to prior meeting minutes and summaries by voice vote.

Budget and Authorization Items

The council approved budget amendments as amended [0:18:58] after removing Budget Journal 58869 for police bond projects from the amendment list [0:17:25].

The council passed multiple authorization items by voice vote, including: - L259-12: Amend Section 23-5 to abolish one sworn Police Captain position and create one sworn Police Lieutenant position [0:19:32] - L260-12: Execute Change Order No. 1 with Burdette Construction, Inc. for Warfield Place stone entrance wall relocation [0:19:32] - L261-12: Amend Section 22-5 to increase salary of one Coroner position [0:19:32] - L262-12: Renew agreement with OmniSource Integrated Supply, LLC for temporary employees in Division of Emergency Management/911 [0:19:32] - L265-12: Execute MOA with University of Kentucky College of Social Work and Martin School of Public Policy for Social Services Needs Assessment, provided funds are appropriated for fiscal year 2013 [0:19:32] - L266-12: Purchase property at 436 Locust Avenue for Meadows-Northland-Arlington Public Improvements Project [0:19:32]

Additional authorizations passed included agreements with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for Town Branch Trail Phase III, Isaac Murphy Memorial Garden, and Legacy Trail Enhancements (L268-12, L273-12, L275-12), along with approvals for relocation assistance policy, emergency housing services, and grant applications.

Other Business

CM Lane moved to place a proposed scrap metal ordinance on the docket, seconded by CM McChord [0:32:00]. CM Farmer moved to schedule a brief presentation on the scrap metal ordinance for April 10th, seconded by CM Martin [0:44:12]. This motion passed by roll call with 7 ayes and 6 nays. Voting in favor were CM Blues, CM Ellinger, CM Lawless, CM Farmer, CM Martin, CM Ford, and CM Cosby. Voting against were CM McCord, CM Kay, CM Myers, CM Lane, CM Henson, and CM Beard.

CM Ellinger moved to forward a resolution ranking budget priorities as (1) pension issues, (2) infrastructure needs, and (3) city parks, seconded by CM Henson [1:29:11].

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting approved two appropriations under resolution L265-12:

Social Services Needs Assessment The body appropriated $35,000 to the University of Kentucky College of Social Work and Martin School of Public Policy to fund a Social Services Needs Assessment.

Summer Youth Employment Program Expansion The body appropriated $75,000 per year to the Division of Parks and Recreation to support expansion of the Summer Youth Employment Program by 150 slots over two summers.

Public Comment

The meeting included public comments on two primary topics: recycling legislation and youth violence prevention, along with concerns about pension obligations.

Recycling and Metal Theft

Greg Dixon spoke at 3:49 about the need for statewide recycling legislation to create a level playing field for recyclers and support efforts to combat copper theft. Justin Irvin followed at 6:12, reiterating concerns that current Fayette County recycling laws could create an uneven playing field and increase overhead for recyclers.

Youth Violence Prevention

Multiple speakers addressed youth violence and community programs. Bruce Mundy spoke at 1:12:24, calling for urgent action to address gun violence among youth and framing it as a national crisis requiring community-wide solutions. Thomas Kirby Neal advocated at 1:15:43 for a community-driven task force to develop after-school and vacation programs, emphasizing bottom-up engagement. Billy Mallory requested at 1:19:55 that the government provide a liaison to a grassroots task force to ensure community voices are heard in addressing youth violence. Corey Dunn stressed at 1:22:05 the need for immediate action on youth programs, arguing that waiting until next summer would result in more lives lost. Ronald Hill Sr. spoke at 1:39:12, emphasizing the importance of strong families and community unity in addressing social issues and urging council members to work together.

Police and Fire Pension Concerns

Several speakers addressed proposed changes to cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for police and fire retirees. Tommy Puckett warned at 1:45:05 that proposed changes would break contractual agreements and harm retired public servants. Ken Jordan expressed solidarity at 1:51:20, emphasizing retirees' service and calling on the council to honor commitments made to them. Charles Stephen Farrell stated at 1:54:36 that retirees fulfilled their part of the agreement and urged the council to uphold its obligation to provide COLAs. William Stewart demanded at 1:56:19 that the city fulfill its court-ordered obligation to fund the police and fire pension fund and criticized the lack of accountability.

Appointments

Kate Savage was appointed to the Citizens' Advocate Search Committee.

Contested Items

Scrap Metal Ordinance and Public Presentation

Council members disagreed about whether a third public presentation on the scrap metal ordinance was necessary. Some council members argued that additional presentations would be redundant, given that the ordinance had already been presented to the public. Others supported holding another presentation to allow for continued community input and engagement on the proposed ordinance.

Police and Fire Pension COLA

The proposed changes to cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for police and fire retirees generated significant community opposition. Retirees and community members spoke against the modifications, arguing that the changes would break contractual promises made to public servants. Opponents emphasized the importance of honoring existing commitments to retired police and fire personnel and maintaining the benefits they had been promised.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

3:49

During the public comment period, two speakers addressed the body on issues related to metal theft and recycling legislation.

Greg Dixon and Justin Irvin spoke about metal theft and advocated for balanced recycling legislation. Their comments focused on the need for legislative measures that would address metal theft while maintaining fair practices within the recycling industry.

The meeting also included a moment of silence observed for Mayor Gray's mother.

Requested Rezonings / Docket Approval

8:54

During this agenda item, the council considered several motions to place items on the docket without hearings. Council members CM Blues, CM Lawless, CM Beard, and CM Ellinger participated in the discussion.

The council approved motions addressing two primary matters:

• A resolution to amend Board of Adjustment notice requirements
• An appointment of a new Citizens' Advocate representative

All items presented during this segment were approved by the council. The discussion resulted in the placement of these items on the docket for further consideration without requiring separate public hearings at that time.

Approval of Summary

During this agenda item, the council addressed the correction and approval of summaries from previous work sessions. 15:13

Key Speakers

Council Members Blues, Beard, and Ellinger participated in this discussion.

Action Taken

Motions were passed to correct and approve summaries from previous work sessions. These actions included updates to minutes and corrections to prior records.

Outcome

The item was approved.

Budget Amendments

Budget journal entry 58869 was removed from consideration as it had already been approved in a previous action. Following this removal, the budget amendments were presented for approval. Council members Lawless and Farmer participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The budget amendments, as amended, were approved by the council.

17:25

New Business

19:32

During the New Business section, the council considered and approved a series of authorizations covering construction changes, budget adjustments, and agreements with various agencies and organizations.

Council Members Ellinger, Farmer, and Stinnett participated in the discussion of these items. The specific details of individual authorizations, construction projects, budget modifications, and agency agreements were presented for council consideration.

The outcome of this agenda item was approval of the proposed authorizations and agreements.

Continuing Business / Presentations

30:39

During this agenda item, the body received presentations on two topics and approved a motion regarding future discussion of a scrap metal ordinance.

Presentations Given

Two presentations were delivered during this segment:

• General Government Committee update
• Commission on Youth Development and Public Safety

Key Speakers

The presentations and discussion involved CM Lane, CM Ford, and Commander Weathers.

Outcome

A motion was passed to hold a follow-up presentation on the scrap metal ordinance at a future meeting.

Council Report

During this informational segment, council members provided updates on various community activities and personal matters. 1:25:20

Speakers and Updates

The following council members participated in sharing reports: CM Lawless, CM Farmer, CM Martin, CM Ellinger, CM McChord, CM Beard, CM Cosby, and CM Ford.

Topics Discussed

Council members shared updates on: - Community events - Neighborhood cleanups - Personal commitments

Condolences

Several members expressed condolences to Mayor Gray during this portion of the meeting.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

1:45:05

During this portion of the meeting, eight citizens addressed the governing body on matters not included in the formal agenda. The speakers focused primarily on two key issues: police and fire pension matters and youth violence prevention.

Key Speakers and Topics

The following individuals provided public comment:

• Tommy Puckett
• Ken Jordan
• Charles Farrell
• William Stewart
• Bruce Mundy
• Thomas Kirby Neal
• Billy Mallory
• Corey Dunn

Issues Raised

Citizens emphasized the importance of honoring contractual agreements related to police and fire pensions. This theme appeared to be a significant concern among multiple speakers during the public comment period.

Additionally, speakers highlighted the urgency of addressing youth violence prevention, indicating this as a priority issue requiring attention from the governing body.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, allowing citizens to raise concerns and present perspectives on issues outside the formal meeting agenda. No formal action or decision was taken during this public comment period.