Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on October 15, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center. Vice Mayor Linda Gorton presided over the meeting, which included 10 agenda items and resulted in 26 motions and votes. The council heard 4 public comments during the meeting and approved several items including requested rezonings, a summary, budget amendments, continuing business and presentations, and council reports. One item of new business was postponed. The meeting concluded with adjournment.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on October 15, 2013:

• Linda Gorton
• Chris Ford
• Shevawn Akers
• Diane Lawless
• Julian Beard
• Jennifer Scutchfield
• George Myers
• Harry Clarke
• Ed Lane
• Kevin Stinnett
• Steve Kay
• John Massati
• Henson
• Farmer

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

Procedural Approvals 3:00

The body approved the docket for the work session on a voice vote, with motion by Ellinger and second by Scutchfield. The summary of the work session was approved on a voice vote, with motion by Beard and second by Akers.

Budget and Administrative Items 4:01

Budget amendments were approved on a voice vote, with motion by Farmer and second by Akers. New business items were approved on a voice vote, also with motion by Farmer and second by Akers.

Item 1095-13: Comprehensive Affordable Housing Strategy Agreement 4:01

A motion to table item t (1095-13), authorization to execute an agreement with czb, LLC for a Comprehensive Affordable Housing Strategy, passed on a roll call vote with 11 ayes and 4 nays. Those voting in favor were Linda Gorton, Chris Ford, Diane Lawless, Julian Beard, Jennifer Scutchfield, George Myers, Harry Clarke, Ed Lane, Kevin Stinnett, Steve Kay, and John Massati. Those voting against were Shevawn Akers, Farmer, Henson, and Akers.

A subsequent motion to bring item 1095-13 back onto the docket for November 5, 2013, with a report on consulting fees (General Fund) for the past three years, passed on a voice vote with motion by Scutchfield and second by Mossotti. A motion to amend this by Mossotti, seconded by Myers, to reschedule for November 21, 2013, was withdrawn.

Other Approvals 4:33

Neighborhood Development Funds were approved on a voice vote (motion by Myers, second by Ellinger). The definition of Adult Day Care was adopted on a voice vote (motion by Farmer, second by Akers). A motion to keep the sidewalk connecting Elm Tree Lane and Rand Avenue open and remove it from the docket passed on a voice vote (motion by Farmer, second by Beard). A motion to request redesign of the sidewalk for improved pedestrian and bicycle access and safety, returning it to the Planning and Public Works Committee, passed on a voice vote (motion by Farmer, second by Akers). The Greenway Masterplan and Greenway Manual review was referred to the Planning and Public Works Committee on a voice vote (motion by Mossotti, second by Scutchfield).

Mayor's Report and Ethics Committee 4:33

The Mayor's Report was approved on a voice vote (motion by Stinnett, second by Kay). An amendment to remove two names for Ethics Committee nominees and hold confirmation hearings on October 24, 2013, passed on a voice vote (motion by Kay, second by Henson).

Session Management and Adjournment 4:33

Public comment time was extended by two minutes on a voice vote (motion by Lawless, second by Kay). The body entered closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(g) to discuss an economic development matter involving real property on a voice vote (motion by Ellinger, second by Myers), and returned to open session on a voice vote (motion by Kay, second by Clarke). A resolution initiating Planning Commission review of rezoning 16.16 acres at 920 Citation Boulevard from R-3 to P-2 zone was placed on the docket on a voice vote (motion by Akers, second by Ellinger). The meeting adjourned on a voice vote (motion by Myers, second by Beard).

Additional Motions [timestamp: 00:17:20–00:42:38]

The Social Services & Community Development meeting on October 22, 2013, was cancelled on a voice vote (motion by Gorton, second by Ford). A special committee of the whole for fund balance discussion was set for October 22, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. on a voice vote (motion by Gorton, second by Myers), with the time confirmed by amendment (motion by Massati, second by Myers). A 'rainy day reserve' discussion was added to the Budget and Finance Committee agenda on a voice vote (motion by Farmer, second by Kaye). Resolutions authorizing condemnation proceedings for the Blue Sky Pump Station and Force Main Project and the Boba Link Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project were placed on the docket on voice votes (motions by Scutchfield and Henson respectively). The final adjournment passed on a voice vote (motion by Akers, second by Gorton) 42:38.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two personnel-related budget amendments:

Traffic Engineer Position Amendment (L1098-13)

The city approved an amendment with a fiscal impact of $12,166 related to the abolishment of the Associate Traffic Engineer position and creation of a Traffic Engineer position.

Attorney Position Amendment (L1112-13)

The city approved an amendment regarding the abolishment of the Attorney (Unclassified) position and creation of an Attorney (Classified) position. This amendment was determined to have no budgetary impact.

Public Comment

Several community members addressed the board during the public comment period.

Domestic Partner Benefits and Firefighter Recognition

15:38 John Massati shared a personal story highlighting three female firefighters who made history by responding to a brush fire as an all-female crew on a Lexington fire truck. Massati emphasized their achievement and acknowledged the challenges inherent in the job.

Wolf Run Festival Announcement

24:23 Henson announced the Wolf Run Festival taking place that weekend at Wolf Run Park on Maywick View Lane. The event will include creek cleanup, removal of bush honeysuckle, educational components for children, and food.

Fund Balance and Capital Projects

25:26 Farmer requested the removal of three items from the fund balance list due to his absence. He advocated for the Eidlour Ball Fields project and proposed the creation of a formal rainy day reserve.

Library System Appreciation

28:35 Farmer praised the Lexington library system, sharing a personal anecdote about visiting all public libraries to check out large print books. He emphasized the value and community use of the library system.

Contested Items

Motion to Table Comprehensive Affordable Housing Strategy

A motion to table item t (1095-13) regarding a Comprehensive Affordable Housing Strategy resulted in a split vote. The motion to table passed 11-4, with Council Members Kay, Akers, Lawless, and Farmer voting against the motion. This vote indicated division among council members on whether to proceed with the housing strategy agreement at that time.

Fund Balance Discussion and Meeting Scheduling

A heated discussion arose regarding the cancellation of the Social Services meeting and the rescheduling of the fund balance discussion. During this debate, Council Member Lane proposed an amendment to re-rank the items under consideration. However, the amendment was not seconded, preventing it from moving forward for a vote.

Public Comment – Issues on Agenda

No public comments were made on issues on the agenda during this portion of the meeting.

Requested Rezonings / Docket Approval

3:00

The docket was approved without dissent. No docket items were presented for this week.

Key speakers on this agenda item included Ellinger and Scutchfield.

Approval of Summary

The body approved the summary of the work session without dissent. 3:00

Key speakers on this matter included Beard and Akers.

The summary was approved by unanimous consent.

Budget Amendments

4:01

No budget amendments were presented for consideration during this meeting. The body proceeded directly to a motion for approval, which passed without dissent.

Key Speakers: Farmer and Akers

Outcome: Approved

New Business

4:01

Several new business items were brought before the board during this section of the meeting.

Item Tabled for Future Review

The board discussed item t (1095-13) and voted to table it pending further review. A motion was made to bring the item back for consideration at a subsequent meeting, with November 5 or 21, 2013 proposed as potential dates for revisiting the matter.

Vote on Tabling Motion

The motion to table item t (1095-13) passed with a vote of 11-4, indicating substantial but not unanimous support for postponing discussion of this item.

Key Participants

The discussion involved board members Scutchfield, Mossotti, Farmer, and Akers.

Outcome

The new business item was postponed, with the board deferring final action until a later meeting date to be determined between November 5 and November 21, 2013.

Continuing Business / Presentations

4:33

During this agenda item, the council heard several presentations and committee summaries. Key speakers included Myers, Farmer, Ford, Kay, and Ellinger.

The presentations covered the following topics:

• Neighborhood Development Funds (NDFs)
• Social Services & Community Development Committee summary
• General Government Committee summary
• Special Budget & Finance Committee summary

All motions presented during this section were approved without dissent.

Council Reports

Council Members Ford, Kay, Ellinger, and Massati presented reports during this agenda item 4:33.

The reports covered the following topics:

• Workforce investment
• Domestic partner benefits
• Building security
• Fund balance discussion

Outcome

A motion to cancel the Social Services meeting was approved.

Mayor's Report

No Mayor's Report was presented during this meeting. 4:33

Public Comment – Issues Not on Agenda

4:33

No public comments were made on issues not on the agenda during this portion of the meeting.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 00:42:38 following a motion by Council Member Akers, which was seconded by Vice Mayor Gorton. The motion to adjourn was approved.