General Government Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The General Government Committee met on May 6, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., with Kay presiding. During the meeting, the committee addressed four agenda items, heard eight public comments, and took one vote. The committee approved the Neighborhood Parks Task Force item presented by Henson and approved Items Referred. Two informational presentations were also received: Wireless Device Policies (Cell Phone Procurement) presented by Links and Gorton, and a Branding the name 'Lexington' Update presented by Clarke.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on May 6, 2014:

• Kay
• Scutchfield
• Gorton
• Ford
• Akers
• Lawless
• Beard
• Myers
• Clarke
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

A motion to approve the creation and implementation of a barring policy by the Division of Parks and Recreation applicable to all parks of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government was presented by Scutchfield and seconded by Lane 51:12.

The motion passed by roll call vote with the following results:

Ayes (5): Kay, Scutchfield, Ford, Akers, Clarke

Nays (2): Myers, Beard

Abstentions: None

The barring policy for all parks under the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government was approved and will be implemented by the Division of Parks and Recreation.

Public Comment

Council members addressed two primary topics during the meeting: a parks barring policy and a city rebranding initiative.

Parks Barring Policy

Council Member Beard raised concerns about the policy's implementation, criticizing it as insufficiently safeguarded and questioning how officers would identify barred individuals in parks 27:15.

Council Member Henson emphasized that the policy aims to protect community members in parks where criminal activity has created safety concerns 32:53.

Council Member Myers expressed concern that the barring policy could be misapplied to non-criminal behavior and questioned its fairness, advocating instead for proactive programming over punitive measures 52:14.

Council Member Lane supported the policy but urged the Parks Department to frame signage positively to avoid creating a perception of park insecurity 53:51.

Branding Initiative

Council Member Ford questioned whether the city should adopt a symbol not traditionally associated with government and expressed concern about the seal's role in the rebranding effort 1:50:49.

Vice Mayor Gorton supported the Blue Horse as a symbol of Lexington's unique blend of urban and rural identity and emphasized its potential to unify city branding 1:56:14.

Council Member Scutchfield voiced concern that the rebranding effort would be more expensive than communicated and could grow too large in scope 1:55:42.

Council Member Lane supported the Blue Horse as a unifying brand but raised concerns about printing costs and recommended hiring a brand manager to maintain integrity 2:00:41.

Contested Items

The meeting included two items that generated significant disagreement among council members.

Parks Barring Policy

This policy became a point of contention due to concerns about its fairness and implementation. Council Members Myers and Beard opposed the measure, raising questions about due process protections and the potential for over-policing. Supporters of the policy argued it was essential for community safety. The debate centered on whether the policy represented a necessary tool for protecting public spaces or constituted an overreach of government authority.

Branding the Name 'Lexington'

A proposal to replace the city seal with the Blue Horse generated heated discussion among council members. Council Members Beard and Ford criticized the proposed horse symbol, questioning both its appearance and its appropriateness as a government symbol. They expressed concerns about using a horse to represent the city officially. Other council members supported the rebranding effort, viewing the Blue Horse as a modern and unifying symbol for the community. The disagreement reflected broader questions about how the city should present itself and what imagery best represents its identity.

Neighborhood Parks Task Force – Henson

4:36

The Neighborhood Parks Task Force presented three recommendations to address safety and programming concerns in city parks.

Presentations and Recommendations

The task force, led by Henson, outlined the following proposals:

• Parks Barring Policy: A policy to bar individuals engaged in persistent or illegal behavior from park facilities
• Opportunity Park Plan: A proactive initiative designed to address parks identified as having safety concerns
• SAFE Parks Program: An effort to increase family-friendly programming through partnerships with community organizations

Committee Action

The committee voted on the parks barring policy, approving it by a vote of 5-2.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Henson, Cooperrider, Daugherty, and Reed, among others present at the meeting.

Wireless Device Policies (Cell Phone Procurement) – Links/Gorton

1:15:24

The CIO presented updates on the development of a city-wide wireless device policy during this informational agenda item. The presentation covered policy development for both city-purchased devices and employee-owned devices (BYOD).

Key Speakers

Valicenti and Slatin led the discussion on this agenda item.

Policy Overview

The wireless device policy initiative aims to accomplish three primary objectives:

• Improve security across city wireless devices
• Standardize procurement processes for city-purchased devices
• Ensure responsible use of wireless technology

Scope

The policy addresses two categories of devices:

• City-purchased wireless devices
• Employee-owned devices (BYOD)

Process and Engagement

The committee was informed of the timeline for policy development and the stakeholder engagement process being undertaken to develop the comprehensive policy.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes, with no formal action taken by the committee.

Branding the name 'Lexington' Update – Clarke

1:27:18

Scott Shapiro presented the city's branding initiative to adopt the Blue Horse as a unifying symbol for Lexington. The presentation outlined a comprehensive effort to address logo confusion across city communications and enhance the overall image of the city.

Presentation Overview

The branding initiative aims to achieve visual consistency in city communications while reducing the number of competing logos currently in use. The Blue Horse was selected as a central symbol to serve as a unifying element for Lexington's brand identity.

Development Process

The initiative was developed with substantial input from city departments. Shapiro reported that feedback was gathered from 23 department meetings, ensuring broad organizational participation in the branding strategy.

Implementation Plan

The rollout is structured in phases to manage the transition systematically. A key advantage of the proposed approach is its minimal cost, making the initiative fiscally responsible while achieving significant branding improvements.

Speakers and Outcome

In addition to Shapiro's presentation, Diamond participated in the discussion. The item was presented as informational, providing the council with an update on the city's branding efforts and the progress made toward implementing a more cohesive visual identity for Lexington.

Items Referred

2:03:32

The committee discussed pending items that had been referred from other bodies. Kay and Gorton were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.

A motion was brought forward to remove the Neighborhood Parks Task Force from the committee's docket. The motion was approved without opposition.