Economic Development Committee of the Whole

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Economic Development Committee met on October 2, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., with Chair Beard presiding. The committee heard three agenda items during the meeting: an informational presentation on the Kentucky Horse Park, a quarterly activity report from Commerce Lexington, and discussion of the Itinerant Merchant Task Force, which was deferred to a future meeting. The committee took one motion and vote during the session and heard six public comments from members of the public.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on October 2, 2012:

• Beard, Chair
• Stinnett, Vice Chair
• Gorton
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Ford
• Blues
• Lawless
• Farmer
• Crosbie
• Myers
• McChord
• Martin
• Henson
• Lane

No members were absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn. Mr. Rios moved to adjourn the meeting, which passed by voice vote 2:07:17. There were no recorded abstentions on this motion.

Public Comment

Several speakers addressed the council on economic development, workforce issues, and regulatory concerns.

Economic Development Reports

John Nicholson presented on the Kentucky Horse Park's economic impact, noting over $500 million in economic contribution across two fiscal years, with $201.5 million attributed to the World Equestrian Games. He emphasized the park's role in attracting major events and supporting regional prosperity. 12:00

Bob Click delivered a Commerce Lexington Q3 report highlighting strong economic development activity in the Bluegrass region. He cited major projects including Amazon's Kindle tech support facility in Winchester, expansions by Big Ass Fans and Toyota, and noted ongoing workforce development and minority business initiatives. 40:58

Land and Infrastructure Concerns

Council Member Martin raised concerns about limited available land for large-scale manufacturing, emphasizing the need to balance economic growth with preservation of Lexington's horse farm landscape. He urged the council to plan for future development needs. 1:03:00

Guest member Ryan highlighted the importance of regional economic development partnerships, citing the Bluegrass Alliance as a successful model for cross-county collaboration, particularly for attracting companies requiring broader regional infrastructure. 1:14:47

Workforce and Regulatory Issues

Council Member Kaye requested that Commerce Lexington provide median wage data alongside average wages to better understand actual workforce composition, arguing that median figures offer a more accurate picture of job quality. 1:11:27

Sean Tibbetts, representing the Bluegrass Food Truck Association, expressed concerns about the proposed itinerant merchant ordinance, specifically objecting to restrictive hours and location rules. He argued these restrictions hinder service to third-shift workers and eliminate access to parks and breweries. Tibbetts advocated for a streamlined permitting process. 1:26:25

Contested Items

Itinerant Merchant Ordinance

The proposed Itinerant Merchant Ordinance generated heated discussion during the meeting. The primary disagreement centered on the ordinance's restrictive hours and location rules.

Food truck operators raised significant concerns about the proposal's impact on their business operations. They argued that the proposed restrictions would eliminate their access to key markets and hinder their ability to provide service to shift workers who rely on mobile food vendors during non-traditional hours.

Additional concerns were voiced regarding the complexity of the permitting process outlined in the ordinance. Participants identified a need for streamlining the permit application and approval procedures to make compliance more feasible for itinerant merchants.

The contested items reflected a fundamental tension between regulatory oversight and operational flexibility for mobile food service providers.

Kentucky Horse Park

John Nicholson presented information on the economic impact of the Kentucky Horse Park 12:00. The presentation outlined the park's financial performance across multiple fiscal years and major events.

Economic Impact Figures

Nicholson detailed the following economic contributions: - $180 million in fiscal year 10 - $179 million in fiscal year 11 (excluding the World Equestrian Games) - $201.5 million from the World Equestrian Games

Park Operations and Strategy

The presentation addressed the Kentucky Horse Park's role in attracting national events to the region. Nicholson discussed the park's business plan focused on achieving self-sustainability, emphasizing the importance of local support for the facility's continued success and ability to host major competitions and events.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action or debate recorded.

Commerce Lexington Quarterly Activity Report

Bob Click presented the Q3 2012 economic development report for Commerce Lexington 40:58.

Major Project Wins

The report highlighted several significant economic development achievements during the quarter:

• Amazon's Kindle tech support facility in Winchester
• Expansions by Big Ass Fans
• Expansions by Toyota

Additional Focus Areas

Beyond the major project wins, the presentation covered:

• Minority business lending success
• Workforce development initiatives
• International outreach efforts

Outcome

This was an informational presentation with no formal action required.

Itinerant Merchant Task Force

1:19:55

The committee discussed the proposed Itinerant Merchant Ordinance, which would establish regulations for itinerant vendors, including food trucks, regarding their operating hours and permitted locations.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Peggy Henson, Sean Tibbetts, Chris, and David Barbary.

Issues Discussed

The committee raised several concerns about the proposed ordinance:

• Operating Hours: Committee members expressed concern that the proposed hours were overly restrictive for vendors.
• Location Restrictions: The ordinance included location bans that would prohibit itinerant merchants from operating near homes and parks, which the committee found problematic.
• Permitting Complexity: Members identified concerns about the complexity of the permitting process for vendors seeking to operate under the ordinance.

Separate Food Truck Initiative

A separate pilot program specifically for food trucks was discussed but was deferred to a future meeting for further consideration.

Outcome

The agenda item was deferred, indicating that the committee did not reach a final decision on the Itinerant Merchant Ordinance at this meeting and will revisit the matter at a later date.