Urban County Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on May 7, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Jim Gray presiding. The council addressed ten agenda items during the session, including public comment periods, zoning matters, budget amendments, and various reports. The body took 19 votes and heard 8 public comments from residents on both agenda and non-agenda items. Several items were approved, including requested rezonings, a summary approval, new business, council reports, and the mayor's report, while other items were handled on an informational basis.

Attendance

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

Absent: Jennifer Mossotti

Late: George Myers

Votes and Decisions

All motions during this meeting were decided by voice vote. The following actions were taken:

Docket and Rezoning Matters - Motion to approve the docket for requested rezonings and docket approval, moved by Stinnett and seconded by Gorton, passed 9:31 - Motion to place on the docket for the May 2, 2013 Council meeting a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for LFUCG to operate and maintain traffic signals and electrical traffic control devices on the State Primary Road System in Lexington-Fayette County, moved by Ford and seconded by Beard, passed 9:31

Administrative Approvals - Motion to approve the summary of the work session on April 30th, 2013, moved by Beard and seconded by Myers, passed 10:01 - Motion to approve new business items, moved by Farmer and seconded by Scutchfield, passed 10:34 - Motion to approve the Mayor's Report, moved by Stinnett and seconded by Kay, passed 13:19

Budget and Finance - Motion to approve the neighborhood development funds, moved by Gorton and seconded by Ellinger, passed 13:19 - Motion to ratify the Lextran budget as presented, moved by Gorton and seconded by Kay, passed 13:19 - Motion to refer to the Budget and Finance Committee the issue of reserve accounts, their usefulness, and how they are funded, moved by Gorton and seconded by Lane, passed 13:19

Zoning and Environmental - Motion to place on the docket for the May 2, 2013 Council meeting an ordinance amending Article 5-1(a) of the Zoning Ordinance to provide for right-of-entry and administrative warrants related to zoning enforcement, moved by Farmer and seconded by Gorton, passed 13:19 - Motion to refer to the Environmental Quality Committee the Internal Audit Report on the Division of Waste Management's expenditures, moved by Stinnett and seconded by Ellinger, passed 13:19

Code Enforcement and Community Development - Motion to place on the docket for May 23, 2013, a resolution directing the mayor to immediately fill the vacant positions within the Division of Code Enforcement, moved by Henson and seconded by Farmer, passed 1:24:06 - Motion to refer the subject of small area plan implementation and funding aspects to the Social Services and Community Development Committee, moved by Ford and seconded by Akers, passed 1:27:52 - Motion to place the issue of creating a community-wide community development corporation into the Economic Development Committee, moved by Myers and seconded by Ellinger, passed 1:43:32

Housing and Budget Scheduling - Motion to place the issue of the relocation process of the Housing Authority into Social Services Committee, moved by Myers and seconded by Ford, passed 2:39:22 - Motion to schedule a special meeting for the public hearing on the mayor's budget on May 28th at 3 p.m., moved by Ellinger and seconded by Case, passed 1:36:46 - Motion to adjourn, moved by Myers and seconded by Ellinger, passed 13:19

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included authorization for five financial actions:

Verizon Wireless Contract Renewal (L0295-13) Authorization was granted to renew the Verizon Wireless Contract Routing Project for the next four calendar years at a cost of $180,000.00.

Information Technology Services Contracts (L0386-13) Authorization was approved to select vendors to provide Information Technology Services and Consulting as needed per RFP #2-2013. The approved vendors are AIC, Leverage Partners, Metaformers, Pomeroy, Signature Technology Group, SIS, and Zannett. This action has no budgetary impact.

Law Enforcement Protection Program Grant (L0422-13) Authorization was granted to submit an application to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security for funding under the Law Enforcement Protection Program. The grant would provide $13,633 for the purchase of a micro-robot.

Dishwashing Chemicals Purchase (L0428-13) Authorization was granted to execute an agreement with Smart Systems for dishwashing chemicals for use in the child care food program at the Family Care Center for FY 2013. The cost is $2,400.

Senior Citizens Center Funding Amendment (L0438-13) Authorization was granted to execute Amendment #2 to the agreement with Bluegrass Area Development District. This amendment provides for additional federal funds totaling $10,040 for operation of the Senior Citizens Center in FY 2013.

Public Comment

Eight residents spoke during the public comment period, all addressing relocation challenges facing Pimlico residents.

Housing Access and Section 8 Vouchers

Jessica Spivey 2:05:28 described difficulty finding landlords who accept Section 8 vouchers and stated she lacks resources to cover moving expenses and deposits, reporting repeated rejections from landlords.

Antonio Edwards 2:07:34 reported being unable to find housing within a 60-day window and said he has been turned down by landlords despite holding a Section 8 voucher.

Housing Options and Downsizing

Mary Chidester 2:08:37 stated she was denied the option to return to public housing and faced downsizing to a smaller unit, which she said makes it impossible to accommodate her young child.

David Christensen 2:15:39 highlighted the need for the option to return to public housing and criticized the lack of time and support for families to relocate, warning of potential homelessness.

Support and Resources

Tanya Fogle 2:11:04 emphasized the social justice aspect of the issue, noting the lack of resources and the emotional toll on families, especially single parents and those with special needs children.

LaShonda Lewis 2:23:03 criticized the lack of support and information from the Housing Authority, stating that residents were not given adequate time or resources to find new housing.

Emotional and Financial Burden

Ikaya Travers 2:20:53 described the emotional and logistical burden of being forced to move again, expressing frustration with the lack of assistance and the downsizing of housing options.

Diane King 2:26:20 detailed financial and emotional hardships faced by residents, including being charged maintenance fees and evicted for non-payment, and criticized the lack of transparency and fairness.

Contested Items

Pimlico Apartment Relocation Process

Residents raised significant concerns about the relocation process for Pimlico apartments. The primary disagreement centered on the adequacy of support and timeline provided to residents during the relocation.

Residents cited several specific issues: - Lack of support throughout the relocation process - Insufficient time to complete the move - Difficulty locating alternative housing that accepts Section 8 vouchers

The community opposition was substantial enough to generate a public outcry. In response to resident concerns, multiple motions were introduced to investigate the relocation process, indicating that the disagreement escalated beyond individual complaints to formal requests for oversight and review of how the relocation was being managed.

Public Comment – Issues on Agenda

9:31

No public comment was received on issues on the agenda.

Requested Rezonings / Docket Approval

9:31

The council approved the docket for requested rezonings during this agenda item. Key speakers on this matter included Stinnett and Ford.

The council also placed a resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on the docket for the May 2, 2013 meeting.

Outcome: The docket for requested rezonings was approved.

Approval of Summary

The council considered approval of the summary from the April 30, 2013 work session. 10:01

Key participants in this discussion included Beard and Myers.

The council voted to approve the summary, with the item passing without recorded objections or concerns.

Budget Amendments

No budget amendments were presented or discussed during this agenda item 10:34. The meeting proceeded without any proposed changes to the budget.

New Business

10:34

The council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting.

Items Approved:

• Renewal of the Verizon Wireless contract
• Approval of IT vendors
• Authorization to apply for a micro-robot grant

Key Speakers:

Farmer and Scutchfield led the discussion on these new business matters.

Outcome:

All new business items presented were approved by the council.

Continuing Business / Presentations

13:19

During this agenda item, the meeting included six separate presentations providing updates and information to the body.

Presentations Delivered

The following topics were presented by the listed speakers:

• Neighborhood development funds (Stinnett)
• Environmental Quality Committee summary (Beard)
• Economic Development Committee of the Whole summary (Gorton)
• Budget Committee of the Whole summary (Means)
• Lexington Parking Authority update (Hancock)
• Division of Parks and Recreation agency accreditation

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The presentations provided updates across multiple city departments and committees, covering environmental quality, economic development, budget matters, parking operations, and parks and recreation services.

Council Reports

During the Council Reports agenda item, the council addressed two matters requiring committee review.

The council referred the issue of reserve accounts to the Budget and Finance Committee for further examination and recommendation. Additionally, the Internal Audit Report on the Division of Waste Management was referred to the Environmental Quality Committee for consideration.

Key speakers on this item included Gorton and Stinnett. The council approved the referrals of both matters to their respective committees. 13:19

Mayor's Report

13:19

The council addressed the Mayor's Report as agenda item VIII. Key speakers on this matter included Stinnett and Kay.

The council approved the Mayor's Report.

Public Comment – Issues Not on Agenda

2:05:28

During this portion of the meeting, public comment was received regarding the Pimlico apartment relocation issue. Multiple residents and community members spoke to express their concerns about the situation.

Key Speakers

The following individuals provided comment: Spivey, Edwards, Chidester, Fogle, Christensen, Travers, Lewis, and King.

Issues Raised

Residents expressed concerns centered on three primary areas:

• Lack of support for those affected by the relocation
• Limited availability of alternative housing options
• Financial burdens being placed on residents

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The public comment was received and noted by the body.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned following a motion by Council Member Myers 13:19. Council Member Ellinger was also present during the adjournment. The motion to adjourn was approved.