Urban County Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on October 9, 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 10 agenda items during the meeting, taking 19 motions and votes on various matters. The meeting included 8 public comment periods, with residents given opportunities to speak on both agenda items and issues not on the agenda.

Among the items approved during the meeting were requested rezonings and docket approvals, budget amendments, new business items, a collective bargaining agreement for police lieutenants and captains, and the mayor's report. The council also approved a summary of previous proceedings. In addition to the votes and approvals, the meeting included informational presentations and reports, including continuing business presentations and council reports from individual members. Mayor Jim Gray also delivered a report to the council.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on October 9, 2012:

• Linda Gorton
• Chuck Ellinger
• Steve Kay
• Chris Ford
• Diane Lawless
• Julian Beard
• Bill Farmer
• Kevin Stinnett
• Jay McChord
• George Myers
• KC Crosbie
• Peggy Henson
• Ed Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Cancel Public Hearing [00:05:39] A motion by Linda Gorton, seconded by Bill Farmer, to cancel the public hearing scheduled for October 9, 2012 at 6:00pm passed unanimously.

Motion to Approve Summary [00:06:05] A motion by Kevin Stinnett, seconded by Julian Beard, to approve the Summary passed unanimously.

Motion to Approve Budget Amendments [00:30:09] A motion by Bill Farmer, seconded by George Myers, to approve the Budget Amendments passed unanimously.

Motion to Approve New Business Items [00:37:04] A motion by Linda Gorton, seconded by Julian Beard, to approve New Business items passed unanimously.

Motion to Amend New Business Items [00:37:04] A motion by Bill Farmer, seconded by Kevin Stinnett, to amend New Business items by removing items 'a' and 'b' and returning them to the General Government Committee passed by roll call vote, 7-6. Voting in favor: Linda Gorton, Steve Kay, Julian Beard, George Myers, Ed Lane, Diane Lawless, and Bill Farmer. Voting against: Chuck Ellinger, Kevin Stinnett, Jay McChord, KC Crosbie, Peggy Henson, and Chris Ford.

Motion to Amend New Business Item 'e' [00:37:04] A motion by Charlie Martin, seconded by Ed Lane, to amend New Business item 'e' to remove 'monthly' and add 'annual' passed unanimously.

Motion to Approve Neighborhood Development Funds [00:37:35] A motion by Chuck Ellinger, seconded by Julian Beard, to approve the Neighborhood Development Funds passed unanimously.

Motion Regarding Zoning Ordinance Amendments [00:37:35] A motion by Bill Farmer, seconded by Linda Gorton, to place on the docket a resolution initiating zoning ordinance test amendments to Articles 1, 8, 11, 12, and 16 to authorize Automobile and Refueling Stations for Compressed Natural Gas or Liquefied Petroleum passed unanimously.

Motion Regarding Adult Day Care ZOTA [00:37:35] A motion by Bill Farmer, seconded by George Myers, to forward the Adult Day Care ZOTA with amended parking ratio of 1 to 10 to the full Council passed by roll call vote, 8-5. Voting in favor: Linda Gorton, Chuck Ellinger, Steve Kay, Diane Lawless, Julian Beard, Kevin Stinnett, Jay McChord, and George Myers. Voting against: KC Crosbie, Peggy Henson, Ed Lane, Chris Ford, and Bill Farmer.

Motion to Adjourn [00:50:42] A motion by Ed Lane, seconded by Charlie Martin, to adjourn passed unanimously.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting approved the following financial actions and budget amendments:

Personnel-Related Amendments

• Fleet Systems Manager Position (0996-12): A fiscal impact amendment of $69,508.95 was approved for FY2013, covering 17 pay periods for the Fleet Systems Manager position.

• Waste Management Position Changes (1023-12): An amendment totaling $5,453.98 was approved for FY2013, reflecting 16 pay periods of fiscal impact for position changes within Waste Management.

Contracts and Purchases

• Police Recruitment Examinations (1036-12): A contract valued at $52,500 was approved with CPS HR Consulting for the cost of written examinations for the Lexington Division of Police recruitment process.

• Landfill Closure Materials (1047-12): A purchase order for $32,298.75 was approved with Skaps Industries for geocomposite material needed for the closure of Haley Pike Landfill.

Infrastructure Funding

• Sanitary Sewer Construction Fund Amendment (63085): A significant budget amendment of $16,670,303.77 was approved for the Sanitary Sewer Construction Fund to adjust for cash flow modeling purposes.

Public Comment

Several council members and residents raised concerns during the meeting on October 9, 2012.

Roy Durbin addressed the council regarding excessive political and commercial signs on Clay's Mill Road, particularly those placed in the public right-of-way. He questioned which department was responsible for enforcement of sign regulations. 11:05

Council Member Lawless moved to add the 400 block of Hollywood Drive to the docket for a 24-hour residential parking permit, citing a petition that had secured 65% of signatures from residents in the area. 21:50

Council Member Henson raised three separate matters:

• A motion to place a residential parking permit for the 700 block of Providence Road on the docket, noting that prior studies had been conducted and that adjacent blocks already have the permit in place. 26:43

• A motion to place a resolution on the docket to install multiway stop controls at the intersection of Cross Keys and Traveler Road, based on Traffic Engineering analysis. 29:05

• A concern about the discontinuation of inmate labor for roadway trash pickup, requesting its reinstatement to support water quality efforts. 1:12:56

Council Member Martin raised two issues:

• Questions about the impact of suspending physical fitness incentives for police, requesting data on how many officers voluntarily take physical training tests. 1:21:13

• An emphasis on the need to quantify the environmental impact of green infrastructure projects to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent effectively. 1:00:23

Council Member Blues proposed expanding the public safety review to include code enforcement abatement procedures, citing concerns about notice timetables and follow-up processes. 1:41:53

Contested Items

Adult Day Care ZOTA Name and Implications

Members of the Senior Services Commission raised concerns about the proposed name "Adult Day Care ZOTA," arguing that the designation could imply a state-licensed adult daycare center. This naming choice prompted commissioners to call for reconsideration of the name before the item could be approved.

Code Enforcement Abatement Procedures

Council Member Martin sought to expand the scope of a public safety review to include code enforcement abatement procedures. However, Martin was advised to defer this request and wait for a report from the Infill and Redevelopment Committee before proceeding with the expanded review.

Budget Amendment for Sanitary Sewer Construction Fund

A budget amendment for the Sanitary Sewer Construction Fund passed unanimously. However, Council Member Stinnett raised questions about the amendment's underlying data, specifically noting the absence of real fund balance information. Stinnett highlighted a disconnect between the records maintained in PeopleSoft and actual cash flow figures, indicating a potential discrepancy in the financial documentation supporting the amendment.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

11:05

Roy Durbin raised concerns about excessive signage on Clay's Mill Road during the public comment period. The discussion that followed involved multiple council members and staff examining the enforcement responsibilities and regulatory framework surrounding signage in the area.

Council members Chris Ford, George Myers, Ed Lane, and Charlie Martin participated in the discussion alongside Durbin. Input was provided by both the Law Department and Planning staff regarding how signage regulations are enforced and what authority exists to address the reported problem.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The discussion served to document the concern and clarify the roles and responsibilities of various city departments in addressing signage enforcement issues.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

21:50

During this agenda item, the board considered three motions related to docket additions. The discussion involved Diane Lawless, Peggy Henson, Ed Lane, Chuck Ellinger, and Jay McChord.

The motions addressed the following items:

• Residential parking permits
• A traffic control resolution

All three motions were presented and discussed before being brought to a vote. Following brief discussion, each motion passed unanimously.

The outcome of this agenda item was approval of all proposed docket additions.

Approval of Summary

The summary of the work session was presented for approval 30:09. Key speakers on this agenda item included Kevin Stinnett and Julian Beard.

The summary was approved without discussion. No concerns were raised during this agenda item, and the approval proceeded without debate.

Outcome: Approved

Budget Amendments

The budget amendments were discussed and approved unanimously 30:40.

Key Discussion Points

The primary focus of the discussion centered on a $16.7 million adjustment to the Sanitary Sewer Construction Fund. This adjustment was characterized as a cleanup of outdated budget entries in PeopleSoft, the financial management system used by the organization.

Speakers

The discussion involved Chuck Fadler, Ryan Barrow, and Jane Graham.

Outcome

All budget amendments were approved unanimously.

New Business

37:04

The New Business items were presented for consideration. Key speakers during this agenda item included Linda Gorton, Julian Beard, Bill Farmer, Kevin Stinnett, and Charlie Martin.

A motion to amend two items was brought forward, which would remove them from the docket and return them to the General Government Committee. This motion passed with a vote of 7-6.

The remaining New Business items were approved unanimously.

Continuing Business/ Presentations

Charlie Martin presented on land use and watershed impacts on stormwater runoff 38:06. The presentation covered several key topics related to stormwater management and environmental protection.

Presentation Topics:

• Green infrastructure projects and their role in managing stormwater runoff
• The Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program
• Community-driven initiatives and their success in addressing watershed concerns

Outcome:

This agenda item was informational in nature, providing the body with an update on stormwater management efforts and related programs. No formal action or debate was recorded for this presentation.

Collective Bargaining Agreement Police Lieutenants & Captains

1:13:58

Ed Gardner presented a proposed four-year collective bargaining agreement covering police lieutenants and captains. The agreement included several key provisions:

Agreement Terms - Wage freezes for the covered officers - Reduced benefits - Increased tuition support

Outcome

The collective bargaining agreement was approved unanimously. Janet Graham participated in the discussion alongside Ed Gardner during the presentation.

Council Reports

During this informational segment, council members provided updates on various community matters and committee actions.

Key Speakers and Updates

Council members Jay McChord, Diane Lawless, KC Crosbie, and Charlie Martin shared reports on their respective areas of focus.

Committee Referrals and Actions

Council Member Martin referred a zoning text amendment to the Planning Committee for review and consideration. Additionally, Martin proposed expanding a code enforcement review, indicating a desire to broaden the scope of existing enforcement procedures.

Outcome

The council reports segment concluded with these items noted for further committee action and review. The zoning text amendment referral and the proposed expansion of code enforcement review were documented for Planning Committee consideration.

Mayor's Report

The Mayor's Report was presented as Agenda Item VIII 1:49:40. Mayor Jim Gray delivered the report, which was approved unanimously by the body. No substantive content was presented during this agenda item.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

1:50:42

During this agenda item, Roy Durbin addressed the public comment period for issues not on the agenda. No additional public comments were made beyond those that had already been addressed during the meeting.

This concluded the public comment portion of the meeting, with no new matters raised by attendees during this opportunity for community input on topics outside the formal agenda.