Budget Committee of the Whole meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

No meeting data is available for the date specified (2012-04-17). The provided information corresponds to a different meeting held on May 15, 2012, by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, presided over by Linda Gorton at the Council Chambers beginning at 3:00 p.m. During that May 15 meeting, the council approved nine agenda items related to various city departments and services, including Animal Care and Control, Building Inspection, Code Enforcement, Emergency Management, Enhanced 911, Corrections, Police, Fire and EMS, and the Department of Public Safety. The council took six motions and votes and heard one public comment during the session.

To obtain information about the meeting held on April 17, 2012, please provide the relevant meeting data for that date.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 17, 2012:

• George G. Myers
• Peggy Henson
• Linda Gorton
• David Jarvis
• Dewey Crowe
• Pat Dugger
• David Lucas
• Rodney Ballard
• Ronnie Bastin
• Keith Jackson
• Tyler Scott
• Elizabeth Chatterton
• Melissa Lueker
• Elizabeth McGee
• Jane C. Driskell
• Clay Mason
• Ryan Barrow
• Stacey Maynard
• Jenifer Benningfield
• Paul Schoninger
• Amelia Confides
• Susan Malcomb
• Connie Underwood
• David Back

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The Council passed six resolutions by voice vote during this meeting.

Resolution 0073-2012 1:03:40 authorized and directed the Department of Finance and Administration to designate a fund of at least $200,000 per fiscal year for nuisance abatement activities. The motion was made by Peggy Henson and seconded by George G. Myers. The resolution passed.

Resolution 0074-2012 1:01:58 initiated text amendments to transfer enforcement of the sign ordinance from the Division of Building Inspection to the Division of Planning. George G. Myers made the motion and Peggy Henson seconded it. The resolution passed.

Resolution 0075-2012 47:44 directed the Division of Emergency Management to present a disaster preparedness plan relating to animals to the full Council by September 30, 2012. Linda Gorton made the motion and George G. Myers seconded it. The resolution passed.

Resolution 0076-2012 1:10:20 directed Enhanced 911 to present a strategic plan regarding funding for E911 no later than October 31, 2012. George G. Myers made the motion and Peggy Henson seconded it. The resolution passed.

Resolution 0077-2012 1:21:09 authorized and directed the Commissioner of Public Safety to conduct an evaluation of police and fire positions to determine if duties can be performed by non-sworn employees. George G. Myers made the motion and Peggy Henson seconded it. The resolution passed.

Resolution 0078-2012 1:20:34 referred the creation of a policy for systematically replacing and maintaining vehicles, apparatuses, and other recurring costs critical to Public Safety divisions to a standing committee. George G. Myers made the motion and Peggy Henson seconded it. The resolution passed.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting approved the following financial actions:

Animal Care and Control Radio System Upgrade A one-time cost of $11,687 was authorized to upgrade radios to a 900 MHz system for Animal Care and Control, under Resolution 0073-2012.

Nuisance Abatement Funding The Division of Code Enforcement received an appropriation of $200,000 for nuisance abatement activities, including mowing, weeds, trash, and debris removal, under Resolution 0073-2012.

Outdoor Warning Sirens Replacement The Division of Emergency Management was awarded $120,000 in grant funding for the replacement of 7 of the oldest outdoor warning sirens.

Fire Tower Demolition The Division of Fire received $32,000 for the demolition of a condemned fire tower.

Public Comment

1:33:15 David Back, a farmer from Fayette County, addressed the council regarding bicycle safety on rural roads. He expressed concern about the safety conditions on Red Road, which is only 14 feet wide but experiences high volumes of cyclist traffic. Back urged the council to consider two potential solutions: widening the road and increasing public awareness efforts to help prevent accidents in the area.

Appointments

The following appointment was made during this meeting:

• Rodney Ballard was appointed to the position of Assistant Director, Corrections.

Contested Items

In-house vs. Outsourced Project Management for Consent Decree Projects

Council members were divided on how to structure project management oversight for consent decree projects. The debate centered on whether to hire an internal project manager or contract with an outside firm.

Those supporting an external contractor argued that engaging a specialized firm could generate significant cost savings—potentially millions of dollars over a 10-year period. Proponents of this approach emphasized that an outside firm would bring specialized expertise and could implement value engineering strategies to reduce project costs.

In contrast, other council members advocated for hiring an in-house project manager. Their position prioritized accountability and continuity, arguing that an internal hire would provide more direct oversight and ensure consistent management of the projects throughout their duration.

The council voted on this matter, resulting in a split decision with members unable to reach consensus on the preferred approach.

Animal Care and Control

47:44

The committee heard a presentation on Animal Care and Control featuring speakers Linda Gorton and Susan Malcomb. The discussion highlighted the partnership between the Lexington Humane Society and LFUCG (Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government), which was characterized as a national model for animal care collaboration.

The committee took action on two matters:

Disaster Preparedness Plan The committee recommended directing the Division of Emergency Management to develop and present a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan for animals. This plan is due by September 30, 2012.

Radio System Upgrade The committee approved a one-time expenditure of $11,687 to upgrade radios to the 900 MHz system.

The outcome of the agenda item was approved.

Building Inspection

The committee discussed revisions to the mining and quarrying inspection fee structure during this agenda item. 1:01:58

Key Speakers

George G. Myers and Dewey Crowe led the discussion on this matter.

Discussion and Presentation

The committee examined two options for restructuring the inspection fees:

• A fixed rate increase approach
• A formula-based approach tied to prior year costs

The proposed changes were designed to make the fee structure revenue-neutral while ensuring fees accurately reflected actual inspection costs.

Additional Action

The committee also recommended adopting a resolution to transfer sign ordinance enforcement responsibilities from Building Inspection to the Planning department.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved.

Code Enforcement

The committee discussed code enforcement initiatives and approved recommendations to strengthen the city's nuisance abatement efforts.

Key Speaker

Peggy Henson presented on this agenda item. 1:03:40

Recommendations Approved

The committee recommended adopting a resolution to fund nuisance abatement with a minimum of $200,000 annually. This funding commitment aims to support ongoing code enforcement activities across the city.

The committee also directed the Department of Finance to include code enforcement liens in monthly reports, establishing a mechanism for regular tracking and reporting of enforcement actions.

Additionally, the committee directed coordination of a sign-abatement program modeled after Louisville's Operation Brightside, bringing a proven approach from another city to address signage violations locally.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved.

Emergency Management

The committee discussed emergency management matters, with Peggy Henson serving as the key speaker on this agenda item 1:08:12.

The discussion focused on two primary areas: long-term emergency preparedness and the status of the outdoor warning siren system.

Long-Term Emergency Preparedness

The committee recommended referring long-term emergency preparedness matters to the Planning and Public Works Committee for further review and action.

Outdoor Warning Sirens

The committee addressed the need to modernize 10-12 outdated outdoor warning sirens. This modernization effort was discussed in the context of current funding constraints, as the committee noted the impact of reduced grant funding on the ability to upgrade these critical emergency notification systems.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved.

Enhanced 911

The committee discussed the Enhanced 911 (E911) system and directed E911 to present a strategic funding plan by October 31, 2012. 1:10:20

Key Speaker

George G. Myers participated in this discussion.

Issues Raised

The committee identified concerns about the sustainability of the current E911 funding model. Specifically, declining landline usage was noted as a challenge to the existing funding structure. The committee emphasized the need to update the funding model to better reflect current call volumes and to account for regional network savings.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved. The committee's directive requires E911 to develop and present a comprehensive strategic funding plan addressing these concerns by the October 31, 2012 deadline.

Corrections

1:12:41

The committee discussed several matters related to the Corrections department, with George G. Myers serving as a key speaker on the agenda item.

Actions Recommended

The committee recommended authorizing an Assistant Director position within Corrections. Additionally, the committee directed the department to present a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) program update by August 31, 2012.

Revenue Discussion

The committee also discussed increasing federal prisoner intake as a means to boost departmental revenue.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved.

Police

The police department presented updates on several operational matters during this agenda item 1:14:01.

Collective Bargaining Agreement

The department reported on the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement. Details regarding the specific terms and conditions of this agreement were presented to the body.

Volunteer Policing Program

The police discussed the use of volunteers in policing operations, outlining how volunteers contribute to departmental functions and community engagement.

Recruitment Efforts

Ongoing recruitment initiatives were addressed, with the department providing updates on efforts to fill positions and build the force.

NCAA Tournament Costs

The police department noted the impact of NCAA tournament overtime costs on the department's budget and operations.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved.

Fire and EMS

1:19:32

The committee discussed two primary matters related to Fire and EMS operations.

Mitigation Cost Recovery

Peggy Henson presented a recommendation that the Fire Department explore options for recouping mitigation costs from responsible parties in cases of hazardous material spills. The committee approved this recommendation and requested that Fire provide a progress report on these efforts by November 30, 2012.

Fire Training Tower Replacement

The committee also addressed the need to replace a condemned fire training tower. This facility had reached the end of its serviceable life and required replacement to continue training operations.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved by the committee.

Department of Public Safety

1:20:34

The committee discussed three primary matters related to the Department of Public Safety.

Vehicle and Apparatus Replacement Policy

The committee recommended creating a policy for systematic replacement of vehicles and apparatuses. This initiative would establish a structured approach to managing the department's fleet maintenance and renewal.

Position Evaluation

The committee authorized an evaluation of police and fire positions to identify opportunities for non-sworn duties. This review would assess which roles could be filled by civilian personnel rather than sworn officers or firefighters.

Final Four Expenditure Tracking

The committee recommended creating a log to track expenditures related to the Final Four event. This documentation system would support future reimbursement negotiations with the University of Kentucky, ensuring that costs incurred by the city in connection with the event could be properly accounted for and recovered.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved.

Key Speaker

George G. Myers presented the Department of Public Safety matters to the committee.