Urban County Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on February 26, 2013, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber located at 200 E. Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507. Mayor Jim Gray presided over the session, which included three agenda items and three public comments from citizens. During the meeting, the body took three motions to a vote, with one resolution approved. The agenda addressed public comment on items before the council, a Resolution on Voting Rights Restoration that was approved, and an informational presentation on Senior Center Site Evaluation.

Attendance

Present: - Linda Gorton - Chuck Ellinger - Steve Kay - Chris Ford - Diane Lawless - Julian Beard - Bill Farmer Jr. - Kevin Stinnett - Jennifer Scutchfield - Jennifer Mossotti - Harry Clarke - Peggy Henson - Ed Lane

Absent: - Shevawn Akers - George Myers

Late: None reported

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included three votes, all of which passed.

Ordinance Number Five [0:07:21] A motion to place ordinance number five on the docket without a public hearing was made by Diane Lawless and seconded by Chuck Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote.

Ordinance Number Four [0:07:54] A motion to place ordinance number four on the docket without a public hearing was made by Kevin Stinnett and seconded by Linda Gorton. The motion passed by voice vote.

Resolution on Voting Rights for Former Felons [0:15:10] A resolution expressing support for automatic restoration of voting rights for former felons was moved by Chris Ford and seconded by Diane Lawless. The resolution passed unanimously.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included authorization for the following financial actions:

Facility Management Services Amendment

The body authorized an amendment to Resolution No. 692-2012 (Item 0042-13) for facility management services provided by Meridian Management Corporation. No specific dollar amount was identified for this amendment.

AT&T Enterprise Mobility Solutions Purchase

The body authorized certification of AT&T Advanced Enterprise Mobility Solutions as a sole source provider (Item 0163-13) for a purchase amount of $66,799.25.

Public Comment

Three speakers addressed the meeting to voice support for voting rights restoration for former felons.

Undine Quinn [0:18:06] advocated for the restoration of voting rights for former felons, emphasizing the importance of democracy.

Reverend Jim Thurman [0:18:40] supported the resolution for voting rights restoration, highlighting the impact on African Americans.

Judy Johnson [0:21:27] represented the Lexington League of Women Voters in support of the resolution, citing disenfranchisement statistics.

Contested Items

Senior Center Site Evaluation

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the proposed Senior Center site at the Continental Inn location. The debate centered on the suitability of this venue for the senior center project.

Concerns raised during the discussion included:

• Crime statistics associated with the Continental Inn area
• Traffic safety issues related to the proposed location

The discussion reflected disagreement among council members about whether the Continental Inn site met the necessary criteria for housing the senior center, with particular focus on public safety and accessibility factors.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

5:06

The council opened the floor for public comments on issues related to the agenda. Mayor Jim Gray presided over this portion of the meeting, which was designated for community members to address matters under consideration by the council.

The public comment period specifically focused on Councilmember Ford's resolution. This agenda item provided an opportunity for residents and other stakeholders to voice their perspectives on the proposed resolution before the council proceeded with further discussion or action.

The outcome of this public comment period was informational in nature, allowing the council to receive input from the public prior to deliberation on the agenda items.

Resolution on Voting Rights Restoration

Councilmember Chris Ford introduced a resolution supporting the automatic restoration of voting rights for former felons [0:15:10].

The resolution was approved unanimously by the council.

Senior Center Site Evaluation

Lifespan Design Studio presented evaluations of potential sites for a new senior center during this agenda item [2:14:56]. The presentation was delivered by Doug Gallow and Ellen Gallow.

The evaluation focused on two primary sites under consideration: the Continental Inn and Turflin Mall. The presenters provided analysis of these locations as potential homes for the proposed senior center facility.

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes, allowing the governing body to review the site evaluation findings without a formal decision or vote at this time.