Urban County Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on December 4, 2007, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber on the second floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Newberry presiding. The council addressed three main agenda items during the session, including budget amendments, a presentation from the Lexington Public Library, and a confirmation hearing for Cheryl Taylor. The council conducted five motions and votes throughout the meeting, with budget amendments receiving approval and Taylor's confirmation proceeding to first reading. Two members of the public provided comments during the public comment period, and the council received an informational presentation from library officials.

Attendance

The Council meeting on December 3, 2007 had strong attendance with 15 members present and only one absence.

Present: • Mayor Newberry • CM DeCamp • CM Beard • CM Stinnett • CM McChord • CM Stevens • CM Ellinger • CM Gorton • CM Blevins • CM Crosby • CM Myers • CM Maloney • CM Blues • CM Lane • CM James

Absent: • VM Gray

Late: • None

With 15 of 16 council members in attendance, the meeting had a quorum to conduct official business.

Votes and Decisions

The Council took five unanimous votes during the December 3, 2007 meeting, with all 15 members present voting in favor of each motion.

Water Supply Resolution Rescission 0:00 CM DeCamp motioned to rescind resolution 390-99 identifying Kentucky River as Fayette County's preferred water supply source, seconded by CM Beard. The motion passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays.

Kennel License Fee Increase 0:00 CM Stinnett motioned to amend Section 4-12.4(d) of the Code of Ordinances to increase the kennel license fee, seconded by CM McChord. The motion passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays.

Dog Running at Large Fine Increase 0:00 CM Stinnett motioned to amend Section 4-19(e) of the Code of Ordinances to increase fines for dogs running at large, seconded by CM McChord. The motion passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays.

Budget Amendments 0:00 CM Stevens motioned to add budget amendments #1142, #1143, #1146, #1147, and #1148, seconded by CM Ellinger. The motion passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays.

Docket Approval 0:00 CM DeCamp motioned to approve the docket as amended, seconded by CM Beard. The motion passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays.

All votes included Mayor Newberry and Council Members DeCamp, Beard, Stinnett, McChord, Stevens, Ellinger, Gorton, Blevins, Crosby, Myers, Maloney, Blues, Lane, and James voting in favor. No members voted against any of the motions, and there were no abstentions recorded.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several financial agreements and contract amendments totaling $381,127.15 during the December 3, 2007 meeting.

Housing Program Amendments

Two significant amendments were approved for first-time homebuyer programs:

• Resolution 667-07 authorized a $100,000 amendment to the agreement with REACH, Inc. for the First-Time Homebuyers Program

• Resolution 679-07 approved a $258,533.15 amendment to the agreement with Community Ventures Corporation for the First-Time Homebuyers Program

Construction Contract Change Order

The Council approved Resolution 670-07, authorizing Change Order No. 1 to the contract with Past Respects, LLC for the Cadentown School Project in the amount of $12,619.

Event Facility Rental

Resolution 690-07 approved a rental agreement with Lexington Center Corporation for $9,975 to host the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Memorial Program.

These financial actions demonstrate the Council's continued investment in affordable housing initiatives through the homebuyer assistance programs, ongoing commitment to the Cadentown School renovation project, and support for community commemorative events. The largest expenditure was the Community Ventures Corporation amendment at over $258,000, reflecting substantial funding for first-time homebuyer assistance programs in the community.

Public Comment

The public comment portion of the December 3, 2007 Council meeting featured announcements from two Council Members rather than traditional public speakers.

Keep-It-Real Campaign Announcement 0:00 Council Member Gorton announced the fourth annual Keep-It-Real campaign, an initiative encouraging high school students to create and submit videos explaining why individuals under 21 should not consume alcohol. This educational campaign appears to be part of ongoing youth outreach and substance abuse prevention efforts in the community.

Academic Achievement Recognition 0:00 Council Member Stennett offered congratulations to the Brown Station High School girls' soccer team for achieving a remarkable academic milestone. The team was ranked seventh in the nation for their collective Grade Point Average (GPA), highlighting the student-athletes' success in balancing both academic excellence and athletic performance.

Both announcements focused on positive youth initiatives and achievements within the community, emphasizing education, prevention, and academic success among local high school students.

Appointments

The Council took action on one appointment during the December 3, 2007 meeting.

• Cheryl Taylor was appointed as Commissioner of Environmental Quality

The appointment was processed as part of the Council's regular business for filling positions on city boards, commissions, and other governmental bodies.

Contested Items

The Council faced one contested item during the December 3, 2007 meeting regarding correspondence to the Public Service Commission about water supply issues.

Letter to Public Service Commission

The disagreement centered on two different proposed letters to the Public Service Commission, with the primary dispute involving the level of political commentary each letter contained. Council members were divided on which version to send, with some preferring a more straightforward approach while others supported including additional political context in the correspondence.

The nature of the split vote indicates that Council members had differing views on the appropriate tone and content for official communication with the Public Service Commission regarding water supply matters. However, the specific details of each proposed letter's content, the individual Council members' positions, and the final outcome of the vote were not captured in the available meeting data.

This contested item reflects broader disagreements among Council members about how to approach communications with state regulatory bodies and the appropriate level of political commentary to include in official municipal correspondence.

*Note: Specific vote tallies, individual Council member positions, and the final resolution of this contested item would require review of the complete meeting transcript or minutes.*

Budget Amendments

0:00 The Council discussed five budget amendments during the December 3, 2007 meeting, focusing on re-appropriating capital project budgets.

CM Stevens led the discussion on budget amendments #1142, #1143, #1146, #1147, and #1148. These amendments involved re-appropriating funds within existing capital project budgets rather than requesting new funding.

The amendments addressed various capital project budget adjustments that required Council approval to move forward with planned municipal projects and expenditures.

The Council approved all five budget amendments without significant debate or opposition, allowing the re-appropriation of capital project funds as requested.

Lexington Public Library Presentation

0:00 Burgess Carey and Larry Smith delivered a presentation to the Council regarding the Lexington Public Library's operations and impact on the community.

The presentation covered three main areas: the library's economic impact on the city, current community programs and services, and future planning initiatives. Carey and Smith provided Council members with detailed information about how the library contributes to Lexington's economic development and serves as a community resource.

The speakers outlined various community programs currently offered by the library system, highlighting the range of services available to residents beyond traditional book lending. They also discussed the library's role in supporting educational and cultural activities throughout the city.

As part of their presentation, Carey and Smith addressed future plans for library services and potential developments. This forward-looking component of the presentation gave Council members insight into the library's strategic direction and anticipated needs.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing Council members with a comprehensive overview of library operations rather than requesting specific action or approval. No formal decisions were made during this agenda item, as it served to update the Council on the library's current status and future objectives.

The speakers' presentation allowed Council members to better understand the library's multifaceted role in the community and its contribution to Lexington's overall municipal services.

Confirmation Hearing for Cheryl Taylor

0:00 The Council conducted a confirmation hearing for Cheryl Taylor's appointment as Commissioner of Environmental Quality. Council Member Gorton served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

The hearing was structured as a first reading, with the formal vote scheduled for Thursday's council meeting. This follows the standard council procedure for mayoral appointments, which requires a confirmation hearing followed by a separate voting session.

No specific details about Taylor's qualifications, background, or the scope of discussion during the hearing were provided in the available meeting materials. The Environmental Quality Commissioner position oversees the city's environmental programs and regulatory compliance.

The outcome of this session was recorded as a first reading, indicating that the confirmation process proceeded to the next stage without immediate opposition or concerns that would have prevented advancement to the scheduled vote.