Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on June 5, 2014, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding over the session. The meeting focused primarily on recognizing community achievements and contributions, with the council addressing two agenda items that celebrated local organizations and athletic accomplishments.

During the session, the council approved recognition for the Family Care Center and honored the Bryan Station Girls Track and Field Team for their achievements. Both recognition items received approval from the council members present. The meeting included two formal votes on these agenda items, demonstrating the council's commitment to acknowledging significant community contributions and student athletic excellence.

The session also provided opportunities for public engagement, with two public comments heard during the proceedings, allowing community members to address the council directly on matters of local concern or interest.

Attendance

The following members were present at the June 5, 2014 meeting:

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

Absent: Gorton, Mossotti

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting, both related to housing and development funding initiatives.

Resolution 0468-14 3:00 Mr. Farmer motioned for approval of a funding agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a Section 108 Loan for the 21c Hotel Museum Project, with Mr. Kay providing the second. The resolution passed by a vote of 10 ayes to 3 nays with no abstentions.

Council members voting in favor: Ellinger, Farmer, Henson, Kay, Lane, Lawless, Scutchfield, Akers, Beard, and Clarke.

Council members voting against: Ford, Myers, and Stinnett.

Ordinance 0554-14 4:00 Mr. Ellinger motioned to amend budgets for funds reserved in the General Fund for Lexington Downtown Housing Fund loans, seconded by Ms. Scutchfield. This ordinance passed with broader support, receiving 12 ayes to 1 nay with no abstentions.

Council members voting in favor: Ellinger, Farmer, Ford, Henson, Kay, Lane, Lawless, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Akers, Beard, and Clarke.

Council member voting against: Myers.

Both measures related to housing development funding passed, though the 21c Hotel Museum Project resolution faced more opposition than the Downtown Housing Fund budget amendment. Mr. Myers was the only council member to vote against both proposals, while Mr. Ford and Mr. Stinnett opposed only the 21c Hotel Museum Project funding.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial items requiring council approval.

Section 108 Loan Authorization The council considered Resolution 0468-14, which would authorize a $6,000,000 Section 108 loan for the 21c Hotel Museum Project. The loan would be provided to 21c Lexington, LLC to support this development initiative. Section 108 loans are federally-backed financing instruments that allow communities to leverage their Community Development Block Grant funds for economic development projects.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Repairs Resolution 0486-14 addressed a contract award of $235,155 to McNutt Construction Co. for exterior masonry repair work at buildings located at the West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant. This contract represents necessary infrastructure maintenance to preserve the operational facilities at the treatment plant.

The two resolutions combined represent $6,235,155 in financial commitments, with the majority allocated toward economic development through the hotel museum project and a smaller portion dedicated to essential infrastructure maintenance at the wastewater treatment facility.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the board during the public comment period, both expressing support for the 21c project.

Mr. Jeff Fugate 2:00 spoke in favor of the 21c project, highlighting its potential benefits for downtown development. He emphasized the positive impact the project could have on the local area.

Ms. Knox van Nagell 2:30 also expressed support for the 21c project, focusing on its cultural and economic impact. She underscored the broader benefits the project would bring to the community.

Both speakers were aligned in their support for the 21c project, with no opposing viewpoints presented during this public comment session. The comments focused on development, cultural, and economic aspects of the proposed project.

Appointments

The meeting included two personnel appointments to local boards and commissions.

New Appointments: • Mr. Phillip S. Thompson was appointed to the Corridors Commission

Reappointments: • Mr. Daryl W. Smith was reappointed to the Housing Authority Board

These appointments represent the ongoing process of filling positions on various municipal boards and commissions that provide oversight and guidance for different aspects of local government operations. The Corridors Commission typically handles matters related to transportation corridors and related development issues, while the Housing Authority Board oversees public housing programs and policies within the jurisdiction.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contentious item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

21c Hotel Museum Project Funding

The primary contested issue involved a resolution regarding funding for the 21c Hotel Museum Project. The proposal generated significant debate among council members, ultimately resulting in a divided vote rather than the unanimous approval typically seen for routine matters.

The resolution passed with a vote of 10-3 in favor, indicating that while a majority of council members supported the funding measure, three members opposed the proposal. The split vote suggests there were substantive concerns or disagreements about aspects of the project funding, though the specific nature of the objections and the identities of the dissenting members are not detailed in the available meeting data.

The 21c Hotel Museum Project funding represented the only item during this meeting that failed to achieve consensus among the governing body, making it the sole source of recorded contention during the proceedings.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this contested item discussion.*

Recognizing the Family Care Center

0:30 The Lexington Urban County Council considered agenda item 0580-14, a proclamation recognizing the Family Care Center. Mayor Gray presented the proclamation and officially declared June 5, 2014, as Family Care Center Day in Lexington.

The proclamation honored the Family Care Center's contributions to the community. Beth Mills participated in the recognition ceremony alongside Mayor Gray.

The council approved the proclamation without debate, formally establishing the special designation for the organization. The Family Care Center received official recognition for its service to Lexington residents through this ceremonial proclamation.

The agenda item was processed as a standard proclamation, requiring no further council action beyond the formal approval and presentation.

Recognizing the Bryan Station Girls Track and Field Team

1:00

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council recognized the Bryan Station Girls Track and Field Team through agenda item 0582-14, a proclamation honoring their championship achievement. Mayor Gray presented the recognition, declaring June 5, 2014, as Bryan Station Lady Defenders Day.

The proclamation celebrated the team's outstanding performance and championship win. Key speakers included Mayor Gray, who led the presentation, Mr. Stinnett, and Coach Kathy Broadnax, who represented the team during the ceremony.

The Bryan Station Lady Defenders track and field team was honored for their athletic excellence and dedication to their sport. The proclamation served to formally acknowledge their accomplishments and bring community recognition to their success.

The agenda item was approved without debate, reflecting the council's unanimous support for recognizing the achievements of local student-athletes. The proclamation represents the city's commitment to celebrating educational and athletic excellence within the Lexington-Fayette community.

Coach Kathy Broadnax was present to accept the recognition on behalf of the team, highlighting the collaborative effort between the school, coaching staff, and student-athletes that led to their championship victory. The designation of Bryan Station Lady Defenders Day provides lasting recognition of the team's contribution to local athletics and serves as an inspiration for future student-athletes in the community.