Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on December 6, 2007, at 7:00 PM in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Jim Newberry presiding. The meeting focused on second readings of legislative items, with the Council addressing two main agenda items: ordinances and resolutions, both of which were approved. During the session, the Council conducted 2 votes and heard 2 public comments from community members. The meeting demonstrated the Council's continued work on municipal governance through the formal legislative process, with all items on the agenda receiving approval during their second readings.

Attendance

The following members were present at the Council meeting on December 6, 2007:

Present: • Jim Newberry • Blues • Crosbie • DeCamp • Ellinger • Gorton • Gray • James • Lane • McChord • Moloney • Myers • Stevens • Stinnett • Beard • Blevins

All Council members were in attendance with no absences or late arrivals recorded for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted two roll call votes during the December 6, 2007 meeting.

Ordinance 265-2007 12:00 The Council voted on changing the zoning from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Light Industrial (I-1) for property located at 1100 Alexandria Drive. Mr. Beard made the motion, which was seconded by Ms. Gorton. The ordinance passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays.

Council members voting in favor were: Blues, Crosbie, DeCamp, Ellinger, Gorton, Gray, James, Lane, McChord, Moloney, Myers, Stevens, Stinnett, Beard, and Blevins.

Resolution 632-2007 45:00 The Council considered a resolution approving the execution and delivery by Clark County of revenue bonds for Crossroads Christian Church. Mr. Stinnett made the motion, seconded by Mr. McChord. The resolution passed with 14 ayes and 1 nay.

Council members voting in favor were: Blues, Crosbie, Ellinger, Gorton, Gray, James, Lane, McChord, Moloney, Myers, Stevens, Stinnett, and Beard.

Council member DeCamp cast the sole vote against the resolution.

Both items required roll call votes, with all 15 Council members participating in each vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved two significant financial measures during the December 6, 2007 meeting.

Grant Acceptance for Law Enforcement Equipment

The Council passed Ordinance 277-2007, authorizing the acceptance of a federal grant totaling $13,608.23 from the U.S. Department of Justice. These funds will be used to purchase bulletproof vests for both the Division of Police and the Office of the Fayette County Sheriff. This grant represents federal support for essential protective equipment for local law enforcement personnel.

Housing Development Appropriation

Under Ordinance 274-2007, the Council approved the expenditure of $450,000 in Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) funds for the Hope VI Affordable Housing Development Project. This appropriation will support the development of affordable housing units as part of the broader Hope VI initiative, which aims to revitalize distressed public housing developments and create mixed-income communities.

Both measures received Council approval and represent investments in public safety and community development priorities. The bulletproof vest funding provides critical protective equipment for law enforcement officers, while the housing appropriation advances the city's affordable housing goals through the established Hope VI program framework.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the Council during the public comment period at the December 6, 2007 meeting.

Dan Rowland spoke regarding the Hope VI Affordable Housing Development Project 30:00. Mr. Rowland focused his remarks on responsible land use and sustainable design principles for the Hope VI project. He urged the Council to incorporate urban design principles into their consideration of the development project.

Charles Boucher addressed the Council concerning revenue bonds for Crossroads Christian Church 50:00. Mr. Boucher raised concerns about the appropriateness of government involvement in a church's bond issuance process. He also questioned whether any Council members had affiliations with Crossroads Christian Church that might present potential conflicts of interest in their decision-making on this matter.

Both speakers addressed items that were likely on the Council's agenda for consideration during the meeting, with Rowland advocating for specific design approaches to affordable housing development and Boucher raising procedural and ethical questions about municipal involvement in religious institution financing.

Appointments

The Council took action on three appointments to various city boards during the December 6, 2007 meeting.

Masterson Station Park Advisory Board • Anita Britton was reappointed to serve on the Masterson Station Park Advisory Board

One Parent Family Facility Board • Sarah Hendrix was appointed to the One Parent Family Facility Board • Linda Hampton was appointed to the One Parent Family Facility Board

These appointments represent the Council's ongoing effort to fill positions on various advisory boards and commissions that provide guidance and oversight for city programs and facilities.

Contested Items

Two significant issues generated debate and division during the December 6, 2007 Council meeting.

Revenue Bonds for Crossroads Christian Church

The proposal to issue revenue bonds for Crossroads Christian Church faced community opposition during the meeting. Citizens raised concerns about the appropriateness of government involvement in facilitating bond issuance for a religious organization. The opposition centered on questions about the proper role of municipal government in church financing matters, though the specific details of the bond proposal and the ultimate council action were not detailed in the available meeting records.

Water Supply Resolution

A resolution addressing the city's water supply deficit problem proved highly divisive among council members. The measure, which aimed to clarify the council's official position on the water supply shortage, passed by the narrowest possible margin with a vote of 8-7. The close vote indicates significant disagreement among council members about either the content of the resolution, the approach to addressing the water supply issues, or both. The razor-thin margin suggests the council was nearly evenly split on this critical infrastructure matter.

The narrow passage of the water supply resolution highlights the contentious nature of water policy decisions facing the city, while the community opposition to the church revenue bonds reflects broader concerns about the separation of government and religious institutions in municipal financing decisions.

Ordinances - Second Reading

12:00

The Council conducted second readings for several ordinances during this portion of the meeting. Mr. Beard and Ms. Gorton served as key speakers for the various ordinances presented.

The ordinances addressed multiple municipal matters including:

• Zone changes affecting local property designations
• Budget amendments to adjust city financial allocations
• Grant acceptances for various city programs and initiatives

During the second reading process, Council members reviewed the ordinances that had previously been introduced and discussed during their first readings. This procedural step allows for final consideration and public input before formal adoption.

The ordinances were presented systematically, with Mr. Beard and Ms. Gorton providing necessary details and clarifications for each item. The second reading format enables Council members to address any remaining questions or concerns before moving to final approval.

All ordinances presented during this agenda item were approved by the Council, completing the required legislative process for their adoption. The successful passage of these ordinances allows the city to proceed with the zone changes, implement the budget amendments, and formally accept the grants as outlined in the respective measures.

The efficient handling of multiple ordinances during this session demonstrates the Council's preparation and the routine nature of these legislative procedures, while ensuring proper deliberation and approval of important city business.

Resolutions - Second Reading

45:00

The Council addressed several resolutions during the second reading portion of the December 6, 2007 meeting. This agenda item, designated as Item VII, involved the consideration of resolutions that had previously received first reading approval.

The resolutions under consideration included measures to accept bids for various municipal contracts and authorize agreements for city projects. Mr. Stinnett and Mr. McChord served as the primary speakers during this portion of the meeting, presenting the resolutions and addressing any questions from fellow Council members.

The resolutions covered standard municipal business operations, including contract approvals and project authorizations that required formal Council action. These types of second reading items typically involve final approval of measures that have already undergone initial review and discussion during previous meetings.

Following the presentations by Mr. Stinnett and Mr. McChord, the Council proceeded to vote on the resolutions. All resolutions presented during this second reading session were approved by the Council, allowing the city to move forward with the specified contracts and project agreements.

The approval of these resolutions represents routine but necessary municipal governance, ensuring that city operations can continue with properly authorized contracts and agreements in place. The second reading process provides an additional layer of review and deliberation before final approval of municipal measures.