Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on May 27, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Gray presiding. The council addressed ten agenda items during the session, including public comment periods, zoning matters, budget amendments, and various business items. The body took 40 motions and votes throughout the meeting and heard 1 public comment. Among the items approved were requested rezonings and docket approvals, budget amendments, new business, continuing business and presentations, and the mayor's report. The meeting also included informational segments for council reports and public comment on issues not on the agenda before adjournment.

Attendance

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

Absent: Lawless, Mossotti

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

All motions during this meeting were decided by voice vote and passed unanimously.

Procedural Motions

The council approved the docket for the May 22, 2014 Council Meeting (motion by Farmer, second by Lane) 1:42. The May 6, 2014 work session summary was approved on motion by Beard, seconded by Scutchfield 5:15. New business was approved on motion by Beard, seconded by Gorton 7:25. Neighborhood Development Funds were approved on motion by Ellinger, seconded by Akers 24:36. The Mayor's Report was approved on motion by Gorton, seconded by Henson. Budget amendments were approved on motion by Gorton, seconded by Myers, including an amendment to increase item j to $604,555 (motion by Gorton, second by Ellinger) 5:46.

Session Management

The council entered closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) on motion by Gorton, seconded by Scutchfield, and returned from closed session on motion by Scutchfield, seconded by Clarke. The meeting was adjourned on motion by Scutchfield, seconded by Ellinger 1:59:45.

Numbered Ordinances and Agreements

The council passed 28 numbered items, including: Ordinance 0479-14 revising the Domestic Violence Prevention Board (motion by Mills); Ordinance 0482-14 for Change Order No. 4 with HW Lochner for Newtown Pike Extension Project services (motion by Gooding, second by Paulsen); and Ordinance 0487-14 establishing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Kentucky State Board of Elections for voting equipment purchase (motion by Gooding, second by Hamilton).

Additional approvals included grant acceptances and applications, professional service agreements, and contract amendments covering areas such as firefighter training incentives, police promotional assessments, transportation planning, senior services, and community development programs. Notable items included engagement of Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC for FY 2014 financial audit (motion by O'Mara, identifier 0511-14) and execution of an agreement with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for administrative services and stop loss insurance (motion by Maxwell, second by Graham, identifier 0534-14).

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting on May 27, 2014 included approval of 16 budget amendments addressing various operational and capital needs:

Parks and Maintenance - Reimbursement of sign contractor expenses from collected revenue: $1,862.66 (Journal 77788-89) - Parks Maintenance overtime via special event reimbursements: $553.60 (Journal 77876-77) - Parks Maintenance overtime via reimbursement: $332.00 (Journal 77904-05) - Parks Maintenance overtime via revenue recognition: $40.00 (Journal 77906-07) - Overtime funding by reducing operating account funds: $103,158.00 (Journal 77984)

Community and Charitable Contributions - Joseph Benson Leadership Award contribution at Family Care Center: $100.00 (Journal 77919-20) - Senior Center operating supplies via donations, parking, and building rental: $9,350.00 (Journal 78015-16)

Capital and Debt - 2014A Refunding bond issue: $61,651,239.90 (Journal 78052-53)

Program-Specific Amendments - Street Sales FY 2013 amendment to reflect actual revenue and expenses: $30,943.47 (Journal 77863-64) - Arrest Policies 2012 amendment in accordance with approved award: $10,090.00 (Journal 77957) - Distracted Driving 2014 amendment to reflect actual expenses and revenue: $5,338.37 (Journal 77865-66) - Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) 2014 for WebEOC contract position: $67,200.00 (Journal 77921-22)

Utility and Bad Debt Expenses - Sanitary Sewer Bad Debt expense: $640,000.00 (Journal 78049) - Landfill Bad Debt expense: $70,000.00 (Journal 78050) - Water Quality Bad Debt expense: $94,000.00 (Journal 78051) - Management fees and portfolio expenses via investment revenue: $250,500.00 (Journal 77986-87)

Public Comment

0:00

Linda Carroll, former president of the Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation, spoke in support of the 21C Museum Hotel project. Carroll urged the council to support the project, highlighting three primary benefits:

• Historic preservation of downtown Lexington
• Job creation
• Cultural revitalization of the downtown area

Carroll's remarks emphasized the project's alignment with historic preservation goals and its potential economic and cultural impact on the community.

Contested Items

Section 108 HUD Loan for 21C Museum Hotel Project

Council members Ford and Akers raised concerns about the proposed use of Section 108 HUD funds for the 21C Museum Hotel Project. Their primary objection centered on the allocation of these limited community development resources, arguing that the funds would be diverted from other pressing neighborhood needs.

Other council members supported the project, viewing it as a catalyst for downtown revitalization and economic development.

The disagreement resulted in a split vote on the matter.

Public Comment – Issues on Agenda

0:00

Linda Carroll delivered public comment in support of the 21C Museum Hotel project. Her remarks highlighted the project's value across multiple dimensions:

Project Benefits

Carroll emphasized the cultural, economic, and historic preservation benefits associated with the 21C Museum Hotel project.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

1:42

The council approved the docket for the May 22, 2014 meeting. The discussion included motions to place ordinances on the docket without public hearings.

Key speakers in this agenda item included Akers, Lawless, Beard, and Farmer.

The item was approved by the council.

Approval of Summary

The May 6, 2014 work session summary was presented for approval 5:15. Key speakers Beard and Scutchfield participated in the discussion.

The summary was approved without dissent.

Budget Amendments

The council discussed and approved budget amendments during this agenda item. 5:46

Key Speakers

The discussion involved Gorton, Kaye, and Elizabeth.

Amendment Approved

The council approved a budget amendment to Journal 77788-89, adjusting the amount to $2,259.26 to reflect additional revenue.

Outcome

The budget amendments were approved.

New Business

7:25

The council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting. Key speakers on these matters included Farmer, Henson, Scutchfield, and Stinnett.

The council approved a series of new business items encompassing:

• Agreements for GED testing
• Software updates
• Federal grant applications

The outcome of the discussion was approval of these new business items.

Continuing Business/Presentations

24:36

During this agenda item, the council addressed several matters under continuing business and presentations. Key speakers included Ellinger, Scutchfield, Henson, Cooperrider, and Daugherty.

The council approved Neighborhood Development Funds as part of the discussion. Additionally, a General Government Committee summary was reviewed, which encompassed two significant components:

• Neighborhood Parks Task Force report — presented and discussed by council members
• Proposed barring policy — reviewed as part of the committee summary

The outcome of this agenda item was approval of the matters presented, including the Neighborhood Development Funds allocation.

Council Reports

Council members provided updates on various initiatives and community matters during this informational segment of the meeting. 12:36

The following council members contributed to the reports:

• Gorton
• Henson
• Akers
• Ellinger
• Ford
• Clark
• Lawless

Topics covered included:

• World Equestrian Games bid — Council members discussed the city's efforts related to a bid for the World Equestrian Games
• Public safety employee surveys — Updates were provided regarding surveys conducted among public safety employees
• Upcoming community events — Council members highlighted various community events scheduled in the near future

The Council Reports segment was presented as an informational item, with no formal action or debate recorded as part of this agenda item.

Mayor's Report

The Mayor's Report was presented as agenda item VIII during the meeting. Key speakers on this item included Gorton and Clark 1:59:14.

The report was approved without dissent by the body.

Public Comment – Issues Not on Agenda

1:59:45

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

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 01:59:45 following a motion by Councilmember Ellinger and a second by Akers. The motion to adjourn was approved.