Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on September 18, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Jim Gray presiding. The council addressed 12 agenda items during the meeting, taking 11 votes and hearing 5 public comments from citizens on issues both related and unrelated to the agenda. Key actions included approving requested rezonings and docket items, neighborhood development funds, and new business matters. The council also received informational presentations on electronic monitoring from Sgt. Chris Toombs of the Division of Community Corrections and on UDAG funds from Irene Gooding, Director of the Division of Grants & Special Programs, along with budget amendments and reports from the mayor and council members.

Attendance

Present: - Mayor Jim Gray - Council Member Beard - Council Member Blues - Council Member Crosbie - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member Farmer - Council Member Gorton - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Myers - Council Member Stinnett - Council Member Stenning - Council Member Wallace - Council Member Hanson - Council Member Lane - Council Member Kaye - Council Member McKay - Council Member Crosby

Absent: - Council Member Martin

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included eleven votes, ten of which passed unanimously and one that passed by roll call vote.

Unanimous Votes

The following motions passed unanimously:

• Motion to approve docket of requested rezonings, moved by Ellinger and seconded by Gorton 9:49
• Motion to approve summary for work session, moved by Beard and seconded by Blues 9:49
• Motion to approve budget amendments, moved by Gorton and seconded by Farmer 10:20
• Motion to approve new business items, moved by Gordon and seconded by Ellinger 10:20
• Motion to approve NDF list, moved by Gordon and seconded by Ellinger 14:33
• Motion to suspend rules to allow CM Lane to speak again, moved by Lawless and seconded by Farmer 14:33
• Motion to approve Mayor's report, moved by Gorton and seconded by Myers 14:33
• Motion to transfer off-premises signage jurisdiction from public safety to planning and public works, moved by Lawless and seconded by Crosby 1:20:35
• Motion to remove October 1st disciplinary hearing from agenda, moved by Gordon and seconded by Gordon 1:24:02
• Motion to adjourn, moved by Stinnett and seconded by Crosbie 1:50:33

Roll Call Vote

Resolution 0073-26, requesting legislative amendment to authorize civil fines for unlawful posting on public property, was moved by Myers and seconded by Ellinger. The resolution passed 13-1 14:33.

Votes in Favor: Mayor Jim Gray, Council Member Beard, Council Member Blues, Council Member Crosbie, Council Member Ellinger, Council Member Farmer, Council Member Gorton, Council Member Lawless, Council Member Myers, Council Member Stinnett, Council Member Stenning, Council Member Wallace, and Council Member Hanson.

Votes Against: Council Member Lane.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included authorization for nine financial actions totaling approximately $237,347.20:

Grants and Programs - EcoArt Grant Program (0914-12): $66,966 authorized for environmental art projects to be distributed among non-profit organizations, public and private schools, and individual artists. - Financial Literacy Education (0945-12): $36,000 authorized to execute an agreement with Apprisen for a financial literacy education program.

Design and Engineering Services - Northland Meadows Arlington Phase 5B Project (0931-12): $24,966.20 authorized for a sole source purchase of design services agreement with ECSI, LLC. - Tates Creek Road/Lansdowne Drive Traffic Signal Project (0957-12): $2,600 authorized for Contract Modification No. 2 to the engineering services agreement with BTM Engineering, Inc.

State Funding - Traffic Signal Project (0949-12): $100,000 in state funds from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet accepted for the Tates Creek Road and Lansdowne Drive Traffic Signal Project.

Property and Easements - Drainage Easements (0943-12): $6,815 authorized to accept permanent drainage easements from the owner of record at 631, 633, and 635 Cardinal Lane for a stormwater improvement project.

Planning and Policy Amendments - Solid Waste Area Designation Update (0897-12): Authorization to approve the Area Designation Update for the 2013-2018 Solid Waste Five Year Plan. - Solid Waste Management Plan (0932-12): Authorization to approve the 2013-2018 Division of Waste Management Five Year Area Solid Waste Management Plan.

Community Development - Neighborhood Stabilization Program (0954-12): Authorization to convey five properties purchased with Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds to Seedleaf, Inc. for community garden space.

Public Comment

Five speakers addressed the council during the public comment period, raising concerns about funding allocation and potential conflicts between proposed projects.

Senior Housing and Daycare Initiative

David Vinson urged the council to allocate funds from the special project pool to support a senior assisted housing and daycare initiative 7:08. He emphasized the project's potential for long-term job creation and economic development in the neighborhood.

UDAG Fund Allocation

Council Member Ford proposed that residual UDAG funds be used to support community projects across all 12 council districts 1:02:28, advocating for broad-based investment to maximize city-wide impact.

Council Member Myers encouraged the council to develop its own proposal for using UDAG funds rather than waiting for an administration-backed plan 1:16:48, emphasizing the importance of district representation.

Council Member Kaye suggested evaluating different project proposals side-by-side to determine which would yield the greatest return and impact 1:18:56, advocating for a holistic budgeting approach.

Theater Competition Concerns

Council Member Farmer raised concerns about possible competition between the Kentucky Theater and proposed new downtown theaters 1:26:13. Farmer called for more transparency on the intentions behind the RFPs related to these projects.

Contested Items

Use of UDAG Funds

Council members were divided on how to allocate a $1.262 million UDAG balance. The debate centered on whether to distribute the funds across multiple districts or concentrate the entire amount on a single high-impact redevelopment project. Beyond the allocation strategy itself, council members expressed concerns about transparency and accountability in how the funds would be used. This split vote reflected differing priorities regarding equitable distribution of resources versus strategic concentration of investment.

Potential Competition Between Downtown Theaters

A heated discussion emerged regarding whether new downtown theaters would create unwanted competition with the existing Kentucky Theater. Council members raised concerns about the implications of introducing additional theater venues in the downtown area and questioned whether public funding should support projects that might undermine an established cultural institution. The discussion highlighted the need for greater transparency in the RFP (Request for Proposals) process and prompted broader questions about the appropriate role of public funding in supporting entertainment venues.

Public Comment – Issues on Agenda

7:08

David Vinson addressed the board during the public comment period on agenda items. He spoke about the need for funding to support a senior assisted housing and daycare project located in his district.

Vinson emphasized the project's potential benefits, highlighting its capacity to generate economic development and create jobs within the community. His remarks focused on securing financial support for this initiative.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, with no formal action taken during this portion of the meeting.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

9:49

No rezoning requests were presented during this agenda item. The docket was approved without discussion.

Approval of Summary

The council considered approval of the summary from the work session. Council Member Beard moved to approve the summary, and Council Member Blues seconded the motion 9:49. The summary was approved unanimously.

Budget Amendments

During this agenda item, no budget amendments were presented for discussion. The council proceeded directly to new business without addressing any proposed changes to the budget. 10:20

New Business

The council addressed several new business items during this agenda section, with discussion led by Gordon and Ellinger 10:20.

The items presented for approval included:

• Solid waste management plans
• EcoArt grants
• Design services
• Traffic signal project modifications

All new business items presented received unanimous approval from the council. No concerns or objections were raised during the discussion of these matters.

Neighborhood Development Funds - September 18, 2012

14:33

The council considered and approved the Neighborhood Development Funds (NDF) list during this agenda item. Gordon and Ellinger were the key speakers presenting and discussing the allocation.

The NDF allocation directed funds to local organizations for a variety of community projects. The approved funding supported initiatives including:

• Free ultrasound services
• School events
• Sports equipment

The council voted to approve the NDF list as presented, moving forward with the distribution of these neighborhood development resources to the designated organizations and their respective projects.

Electronic Monitoring; Presented by: Sgt. Chris Toombs, Division of Community Corrections

15:04

Sergeant Chris Toombs from the Division of Community Corrections presented the electronic monitoring program to the board. The presentation outlined the program's application to low-risk offenders and detailed its operational components, including GPS tracking capabilities and the establishment of exclusion zones for monitored individuals.

Key Presenters: - Sergeant Chris Toombs, Division of Community Corrections - Bureau Manager Edie Dabney

Program Overview:

Sergeant Toombs explained the electronic monitoring program's use as an alternative supervision method for qualifying offenders. The presentation covered GPS tracking technology and how exclusion zones function as part of the monitoring framework.

Cost-Effectiveness:

A central focus of the presentation was the program's cost-effectiveness compared to incarceration. Sergeant Toombs highlighted the financial advantages of electronic monitoring as a community corrections tool, demonstrating how the program provides supervision and public safety measures at reduced expense relative to institutional confinement.

Outcome:

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes. No formal action or decision was required from the board regarding the electronic monitoring program.

UDAG Funds; Presented by: Irene Gooding, Director, Division of Grants & Special Programs

42:26

Irene Gooding, Director of the Division of Grants & Special Programs, presented information on the UDAG (Urban Development Action Grant) fund balance to the board.

Fund Status

Gooding reported that the UDAG fund currently holds a balance of $1.262 million.

Presentation Content

The presentation covered:

• The history of the UDAG program
• Eligible uses of UDAG funds
• The administration's plans for reinvestment

Administration's Intent

Gooding explained that the administration intends to reinvest the UDAG funds in urban redevelopment projects. A key component of this strategy is leveraging private investment alongside the public funds to maximize the impact of the available resources.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes. No formal action or vote was recorded as part of this presentation.

Council Reports

Council Member Lawless moved to transfer jurisdiction over off-premises signage from the public safety department to planning and public works. 1:20:05

Council Member McKay reported on new murals created by Herakut, an artist or artistic collective.

Council Member Gordon made two announcements: first, regarding a scheduled workshop on the UK Master Plan, and second, concerning a change to the disciplinary hearing schedule.

The item was approved.

Mayor's Report

No mayor's report was presented at this meeting. 1:24:02

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

1:02:28

During this agenda item, several council members raised concerns about matters not formally listed on the meeting agenda.

Key Issues Discussed:

Council members Ford, Myers, Kaye, and Farmer addressed the following topics:

• UDAG Funds: Concerns were raised regarding the use of UDAG (Urban Development Action Grant) funds and how they are being allocated.

• Downtown Theater Development: The potential impact of new downtown theaters on the existing Kentucky Theater was discussed, with members expressing concerns about how this development might affect the established venue.

• Fund Allocation Transparency: Council members emphasized the need for greater transparency in how funds are being distributed and allocated.

Outcome:

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The discussion served to raise awareness among council members and the public about these concerns related to downtown development, existing cultural institutions, and fiscal accountability.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:50:33 following a motion by Council Member Stinnett and a second by Council Member Crosbie. The motion to adjourn was approved.