Urban County Council Work Session September 25 2012

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on September 25, 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 session, taking 10 motions and votes on various matters. The meeting included three public comment periods, with members of the public offering input on issues both related and unrelated to the agenda.

The council approved several significant items, including requested rezonings and docket approvals, budget amendments, and neighborhood development funds for September 25, 2012. Additional approvals included a summary of prior proceedings and items under new business. The council also approved the Public Safety Committee Summary from September 11, 2012.

The meeting featured an informational presentation on Community Transformation Acceleration Grants. Council members received summaries of the General Government Committee meeting from September 11, 2012, and heard council reports and the mayor's report. The session concluded with a public comment period for issues not on the agenda.

Attendance

Present: VM Linda Gorton, Chuck Ellinger, Steve Kay, Chris Ford, Tom Blues, Diane Lawless, Julian Beard, Bill Farmer, Kevin Stinnett, Jay McChord, George Myers, KC Crosbie, Peggy Henson, Ed Lane

Absent: Doug Martin

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The council took the following actions during this meeting, all of which passed by voice vote:

Approval of Requested Rezonings and Docket Approval 4:00 Motioned by Council Member Lawless and seconded by Council Member Ellinger, this measure passed.

Approval of the Docket 5:00 Motioned by Council Member Ellinger and seconded by Council Member Beard, this measure passed.

Motion to Waive Public Hearing on Item 3 of the Docket 6:02 Motioned by Council Member Lane and seconded by Council Member Ellinger, this measure passed.

Approval of the Summary 6:33 Motioned by Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and seconded by Council Member Ellinger, this measure passed.

Approval of Budget Amendments 7:03 Motioned by Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and seconded by Council Member Ellinger, this measure passed.

Approval of New Business Items 7:39 Motioned by Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and seconded by Council Member Stinnett, this measure passed.

Approval of Neighborhood Development Funds (NDF) List 8:11 Motioned by Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and seconded by Council Member Farmer, this measure passed.

Recommendation of Option Three for the Mining/Quarry Ordinance 15:07 Motioned by Council Member Lawless and seconded by Council Member Henson, this measure passed.

Creation of a Special Committee to Review Use of UDAG Funds 102:32 Motioned by Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and seconded by Council Member Stinnett, this measure passed.

Transfer of the Distillery District Floodplain Study to the Environmental Quality Committee 45:27 Motioned by Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and seconded by Council Member Henson, this measure passed.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included acceptance and approval of multiple federal grants and budget amendments to support various projects and programs.

Federal Grant

The body accepted federal funds totaling $132,000 from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the design of Polo Club Boulevard at Deer Haven Lane and Todds Road (L989-12).

Transportation and Infrastructure Projects

Budget amendments were approved to establish matching funds and project budgets for transportation initiatives:

• $33,000 amendment (JOURNAL 63233) to establish grant match for the Polo Club Boulevard design project
• $100,000 amendment (JOURNAL 63080-81) to establish grant budget for the Tates Creek Road/Lansdowne Drive Traffic Signal Project from the US Department of Transportation
• $3,788.82 amendment (JOURNAL 63206-07) to recognize funds from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Transportation Cabinet for Georgetown Road improvements

Community and Facility Projects

Budget amendments were approved for the following:

• $18,600 and $8,600 amendments (JOURNAL 63234-35 and JOURNAL 63236) to establish grant budget and matching funds for a Lumina Foundation project at the Family Care Center
• $2,300 amendment (JOURNAL 63202) to provide custodial supplies funding for the Senior Citizens Center through Facilities and Fleet Management
• $1,500 amendment (JOURNAL 63198-99) to provide Urban Forestry expenses via donation funds
• $2,000 amendment (JOURNAL 63204-05) to provide Keep Lexington Beautiful operating expenses

Federal Grant Programs

Multiple budget amendments addressed federal grant programs:

• $9,689.60 amendment (JOURNAL 63078) for CSEPP FY 2011 radio purchases from the US Department of Homeland Security
• $35,000 amendment (JOURNAL 63079) to reallocate CSEPP FY 2010 to match actual expenses
• $10,058.22 amendment (JOURNAL 62958) to rebudget Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the US Department of Energy
• $3.00 and $3,213.32 amendments (JOURNAL 63197 and JOURNAL 63200-01) for JABG programs from the US Department of Justice
• $9,502.71 amendment (JOURNAL 63047) for personnel costs in Neighborhood Stabilization Land Banking 2010 from the US Department of HUD

Blue Grass 10,000 Event

Three budget amendments from Downtown Lexington Corporation totaling $21,031.90 were approved for personnel expenses and clock purchase related to the Blue Grass 10,000 event (JOURNAL 62960-61, 62962-63, and 62964-65).

Public Comment

Three speakers addressed the council during the public comment period.

Lexington History Museum 11:20

Foster Ockerman, representing the Lexington History Museum, expressed the museum's interest in being considered for tenancy in the art gallery space should it become available. Ockerman stated the museum's willingness to pay market rent for the space.

Health Equity and Policy 36:54

Council Member McCord delivered remarks on health equity and policy change, critiquing the city's fragmented approach to public health. McCord urged the council to move beyond small-scale initiatives and instead make bold, systemic policy changes to address the root causes of poor health outcomes.

Kentucky Theater Anniversary 46:01

Isabel Yates, former Vice Mayor, announced a celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the Kentucky Theater's restoration. Yates invited council members to a public event scheduled for October 10th and promoted ongoing fundraising efforts for theater upgrades.

Contested Items

Health Equity and Systemic Change

Council Member McCord delivered a forceful critique of the city's fragmented approach to public health during the meeting. McCord urged bold policy changes and systemic reform to address health equity issues. This critique sparked a passionate exchange among council members regarding the appropriate role of government in shaping healthy communities. The discussion was characterized as heated, reflecting significant disagreement about how the city should approach public health initiatives and whether current structures adequately serve community health needs.

Website Linking Policy

The committee was divided on a proposed website linking policy. The disagreement centered on concerns about restricting links to neighborhood associations and for-profit sponsors. Committee members held differing views on how the city's website should handle external links and which organizations should be included or excluded. Rather than reaching a resolution, the committee decided to delay action on the policy to allow time for revision. This decision reflected the inability to reach consensus on the appropriate scope and restrictions of the linking policy at that time.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

During this portion of the meeting, council members and public speakers discussed various community issues affecting the city 4:00.

Key Topics Addressed

The discussion covered multiple matters, including the Lexington History Museum's interest in utilizing the art gallery space. Additionally, speakers raised broader concerns related to public health and city planning initiatives.

Speakers

Foster Ockerman participated in this segment of public comment.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, allowing for the presentation and discussion of community concerns without formal action or resolution at this time.

Requested Rezonings/ Docket Approval

4:00

The council addressed the docket for requested rezonings during this agenda item. Council members Lawless, Ellinger, and Lane participated in the discussion.

The council approved the docket and took action to waive public hearings for specific items. Two motions were made and approved:

• A motion to approve the docket
• A motion to waive hearing on Item 3

The outcome of this agenda item was approval.

Approval of Summary

6:33

The council considered the approval of the summary from the previous meeting as Agenda Item III.

Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and Council Member Ellinger were the key speakers on this matter.

The summary was presented for the council's consideration and vote. There was no discussion or debate regarding the content of the summary, and no concerns were raised by council members.

The council unanimously approved the summary of the previous meeting. The item passed without dissent.

Budget Amendments

The council approved a series of budget amendments totaling over $300,000 during this agenda item 7:03. The amendments covered grants, personnel, infrastructure, and operational expenses across multiple departments.

Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and Council Member Ellinger were the key speakers on this matter. The council voted to approve the proposed amendments, which addressed funding needs in various areas of municipal operations and services.

New Business

7:39

The council approved a series of new business items during this portion of the meeting. Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and Council Member Stinnett were the key speakers on this agenda item.

The approved items included:

• Authorizations for use agreements
• Grant applications
• Mutual aid procedures
• Sole-source contracts

All of the new business items approved during this section were noted to have no budgetary impact.

The outcome of the discussion was approval of the new business items presented.

Neighborhood Development Funds - September 25, 2012

8:11

The council reviewed the Neighborhood Development Funds (NDF) list during this agenda item. Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and Council Member Farmer were the key speakers on this matter.

The NDF list included a $1,100 grant to The Salvation Army designated for the 2012 Breakfast Roast and Kettle Campaign kickoff.

The council approved the Neighborhood Development Funds as presented.

General Government Summary 09-11-12

Council Member Ed Lane presented a summary of the General Government Committee meeting 8:43.

Topics Covered

The presentation included updates on the following matters:

• Lease negotiations with the Metro Employees Credit Union
• Lease negotiations with Ann Tower Gallery
• Review of the website linking policy

Outcome

This item was presented for informational purposes.

Public Safety Committee Summary 09-11-12

11:51

Council Member Lawless reported on the Public Safety Committee's review of the mining/quarry ordinance. The committee recommended adoption of Option Three, which was subsequently approved by the full council.

Key Speakers: - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Henson

Outcome: The recommendation for Option Three was approved.

Presentation: Community Transformation Acceleration Grants

15:45

David Elsen and Sherry Maddock presented on the YMCA of Central Kentucky's Community Transformation Grant program. The presentation focused on a $75,000 grant awarded to support health equity, policy change, and community-wide initiatives designed to combat chronic disease.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing an overview of the grant's objectives and the YMCA's planned approach to addressing chronic disease through community transformation efforts. The speakers outlined how the funding would support health equity initiatives and facilitate policy changes at the community level.

No specific concerns or debate items were documented from this agenda item. The session served to inform attendees about the grant program and the YMCA of Central Kentucky's community health initiatives.

Council Reports

43:14

Council members provided updates on various topics during this informational segment.

Key Speakers and Topics:

• Vice Mayor Linda Gorton contributed to the discussion
• Council Member Blues provided remarks
• Council Member McCord offered updates
• Isabel Yates participated in the reports

Topics Covered:

The council reports addressed several matters of interest:

• Military family support initiatives
• The distillery district floodplain study
• Kentucky Theater anniversary celebration

Outcome:

This agenda item was informational in nature, with council members sharing updates rather than taking formal action or votes.

Mayor's Report – No

No report was presented by the Mayor during this agenda item.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

36:54

This agenda item provided an opportunity for public comment on community issues not formally included on the meeting agenda. Council Member McCord facilitated this discussion session.

During this portion of the meeting, community members were able to raise additional concerns and input on matters of local interest. The comments received addressed topics including health equity and city infrastructure, allowing residents to bring forward issues they felt warranted council attention beyond the scheduled agenda items.

The session was informational in nature, with the outcome focused on receiving and documenting public input rather than taking formal action on the matters raised.