Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on March 4, 2014, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Urban County Government Center, with Mayor Gray presiding. The Council addressed 10 agenda items during the session, taking 11 votes on various matters including requested rezonings, budget amendments, and new business items. The meeting included both informational presentations and formal voting procedures, with Council members receiving reports from both the Mayor and individual Council representatives. No public comments were recorded during either of the designated public comment periods for issues on or off the agenda. The session concluded with standard procedural items including approval of meeting summaries and adjournment.

Attendance

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council meeting on March 4, 2014 had strong attendance with 14 of 15 council members present.

Present: • Gorton • Ellinger • Kay • Ford • Akers • Lawless • Beard • Farmer • Stinnett • Scutchfield • Myers • Clarke • Henson • Lane

Absent: • Mossotti

No council members arrived late to the meeting. With 14 members present, the council had a quorum to conduct official business.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted eleven votes during the March 4, 2014 meeting, with ten motions passing and one being tabled.

Passed Motions (Unanimous)

The following motions passed by unanimous vote:

• Summary Approval: Motion by Ellinger, seconded by Myers, to approve the summary
• New Business: Motion by Beard, seconded by Ellinger, to approve new business
• Neighborhood Development Funds: Motion by Ellinger, seconded by Scutchfield, to approve neighborhood development funds
• Safety Vests Purchase: Motion by Stinnett, seconded by Henson, to use surplus from general fund to purchase safety vests
• Human Resources Transfer: Motion by Kay, seconded by Gorton, to move Human Resources to CAO's Office after FY15 budget
• Coroner Classification Review: Motion by Kay, seconded by Gorton, to examine hazardous duty classification for Coroner positions
• Affordable Housing Committee Referral: Motion by Gorton, seconded by Henson, to place affordable housing document into Planning & Public Works Committee
• Animal Remains Committee Referral: Motion by Lawless, seconded by Ellinger, to place issue of animal remains on private property in Public Safety Committee
• Handicap Parking Fine Amendment: Motion by Henson, seconded by Beard, to amend ordinance 13-2014 to increase fine for parking in handicap space
• Adjournment: Motion by Gorton, seconded by Ellinger, to adjourn the meeting

Tabled Motion

• Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Motion by Farmer, seconded by Myers, to table ordinance on Affordable Housing Trust Fund was approved by roll call vote with 8 ayes and 7 nays. Voting in favor: Gorton, Beard, Farmer, Scutchfield, Myers, Henson, Lane, and Mayor Gray. Voting against: Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Akers, Lawless, Stinnett, and Clarke.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved multiple contracts, grants, and financial agreements totaling over $1.1 million in commitments and awards.

Contracts and Professional Services: - Resolution L0157-14 authorized a sole source agreement with MKSK for $31,455.78 for Streetscape Phase One design services - Resolution L0168-14 approved a $6,000 amendment to the agreement with the Commonwealth Attorney for the 28th Judicial Circuit for the Project Safe Neighborhood Grant - Resolution L0169-14 authorized Amendment No. 1 with Bluegrass Area Development District for $22,802 - Resolution L0183-14 approved an arbitrage rebate computation proposal with AMTEC for $5,700 - Resolution L0184-14 authorized an engineering services agreement with Louis Guida Consulting/SPQR for $18,750 for the Legacy Trail Interpretative Signage Project - Resolution L0191-14 approved Change Order No. 2 with Todd Johnson Construction Co. for $70,360.42 for the Meadows/Northland/Arlington Public Improvements Project - Resolution L0192-14 authorized professional service agreements with Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners totaling $61,530

Grant Applications and Awards: - Resolution L0175-14 approved applying for and accepting a $135,000 award from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for the Law Enforcement Service Fee Grant Program - Resolution L0187-14 authorized applying for and accepting $75,000 for continuation of the Street Sales Drug Enforcement Project - Resolution L0193-14 approved applying to the U.S. Department of Justice for $750,000 for the Technology Career Training Program

Administrative Modifications: - Resolution L0164-14 approved a modification to the agreement with the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security with no budgetary impact

The financial actions encompassed public safety initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and professional consulting services across multiple city departments.

Contested Items

The March 4, 2014 Council meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Ordinance

The primary point of contention during the meeting centered on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund ordinance. Council members were divided on how to proceed with this legislation, ultimately leading to a motion to table the ordinance rather than move forward with consideration.

The disagreement resulted in a tied vote among council members, requiring intervention from Mayor Gray to break the deadlock. Mayor Gray cast the deciding vote in favor of the motion to table, effectively postponing further discussion and action on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund ordinance.

The split vote demonstrates the divisive nature of affordable housing policy among the council members, though the specific arguments made by supporters and opponents of tabling the ordinance were not detailed in the available meeting data. The outcome means the ordinance will not advance at this time and will require future council action to bring it back for consideration.

This contested vote highlights the challenges facing the council in addressing housing affordability issues, with members apparently holding differing views on the proposed trust fund mechanism or the timing of its implementation.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

The Council opened a public comment period for residents to address issues listed on the meeting agenda for March 4, 2014. This agenda item provided an opportunity for community members to speak on any matters scheduled for discussion during the meeting.

No specific transcript timestamp or speaker information was recorded for this portion of the meeting. The agenda item was designated as informational, indicating that public input was received but no formal action was taken by the Council during this segment.

This public comment period is a standard procedural element that allows residents to provide input on agenda items before the Council begins its formal deliberations. The format enables community members to share their perspectives, concerns, or support for specific issues that the Council will be addressing later in the meeting.

The outcome was recorded as informational, meaning the comments served to inform the Council's understanding of community views on the scheduled agenda items rather than requiring any immediate Council response or action.

Requested Rezonings/ Docket Approval

The Council discussed requested rezonings and docket approval during the March 4, 2014 meeting. This agenda item involved the review and consideration of various rezoning requests that had been submitted for Council approval.

The discussion focused on the procedural aspects of managing the rezoning docket and ensuring that all submitted requests were properly reviewed and processed according to established municipal guidelines. Council members examined the various rezoning applications that required their consideration and approval to move forward in the review process.

The item was approved by the Council, indicating that the requested rezonings were accepted for inclusion in the official docket and would proceed through the standard review and approval process. This approval represents the formal acknowledgment by the Council that these rezoning requests met the initial requirements for consideration and could advance to the next stages of municipal review.

The approval of the rezoning docket is a routine but important administrative function that allows property owners and developers to seek changes to existing zoning classifications for their properties. By approving the docket, the Council ensured that these requests would receive proper consideration through the established municipal planning and zoning review procedures.

Approval of Summary

The Council approved the summary of the previous meeting during the March 4, 2014 session. This routine procedural item was handled without recorded discussion or debate from Council members.

The agenda item was presented as a resolution and received approval from the Council. No specific speakers were identified for this item, and no concerns or amendments were raised regarding the accuracy or completeness of the previous meeting's summary.

Outcome: Approved

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this agenda item.*

Budget Amendments

The Council considered budget amendments during the March 4, 2014 meeting. The amendments were discussed and ultimately approved by the Council.

Outcome: The budget amendments were approved.

*Note: Specific details about the nature of the amendments, discussion points, and individual Council member positions were not available in the provided meeting materials.*

New Business

The Council addressed new business items during the March 4, 2014 meeting. According to the meeting records, new business items were discussed and ultimately approved by the Council.

The available documentation indicates that various new business matters were brought before the Council for consideration, though specific details about the individual items, their content, or the nature of the discussions are not provided in the source materials.

The Council's deliberation on these new business items concluded with approval of the matters presented.

*Note: Detailed information about specific agenda items, speakers, or discussion points for this portion of the meeting was not available in the provided source materials. Readers seeking more comprehensive information about the new business items may wish to consult the complete meeting minutes or video recording.*

Continuing Business/ Presentations

The Council addressed continuing business and presentations during the March 4, 2014 meeting. This agenda item was designated as informational in nature, providing updates on ongoing municipal matters and initiatives.

The session served as an opportunity for staff and officials to present updates on previously discussed topics and ongoing projects. As a standard component of the meeting agenda, this portion allows for the continuation of discussions from previous meetings and the presentation of new information relevant to city operations and planning.

No specific speakers, detailed presentations, or particular outcomes were documented for this agenda item in the available meeting records. The informational nature of this section indicates it functioned primarily as a vehicle for routine updates and administrative continuity rather than decision-making or policy debate.

This agenda item represents the Council's commitment to maintaining transparency and keeping elected officials informed about the progress of ongoing municipal business and initiatives.

Council Reports

During the Council Reports segment of the March 4, 2014 meeting, council members provided updates on various topics and activities.

This portion of the meeting served an informational purpose, allowing council members to share updates with their colleagues and the public on matters relevant to the city's operations and their individual council responsibilities.

No specific speakers, detailed content, or outcomes were documented in the available meeting materials for this agenda item. The reports appear to have been routine informational updates typical of regular council meeting procedures.

*Note: Detailed transcript information and specific timestamps were not available in the source materials for this agenda item.*

Mayor's Report

The Mayor's Report was presented as an informational item during the March 4, 2014 Council meeting. This agenda item provided the Mayor with an opportunity to address the Council and public on various municipal matters and issues of community interest.

The report was categorized as a presentation-type agenda item, indicating it was primarily informational in nature rather than requiring Council action or deliberation. No specific key speakers were identified beyond the Mayor's presentation, and no transcript timestamps were available for this portion of the meeting.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, meaning no formal votes or decisions were required from the Council members. This type of report typically serves to keep Council members and the public informed about ongoing city initiatives, upcoming events, administrative updates, or other matters of municipal concern.

No additional details were provided regarding the specific topics covered in the Mayor's Report or any particular issues that may have been highlighted during this presentation.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

The Council opened the floor for public comments on issues not listed on the agenda for the March 4, 2014 meeting. This agenda item provides an opportunity for community members to address the Council on matters of local concern that are not scheduled for formal discussion.

No specific transcript timestamp or detailed speaker information was available for this portion of the meeting. The item was designated as informational, indicating that no formal action was taken by the Council in response to any comments received.

This public comment period serves as an important mechanism for citizen engagement, allowing residents to bring forward issues, concerns, or suggestions that may warrant future Council consideration or action.

Adjournment

The Council meeting on March 4, 2014 was formally adjourned. The adjournment resolution was approved, bringing the meeting to a close.

No specific discussion or debate was recorded regarding the adjournment motion, and no key speakers were identified for this procedural item. The adjournment followed standard parliamentary procedure to conclude the meeting's business.