Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on January 22, 2008, at 3:05 PM with Mayor Newberry presiding. The Council addressed three main agenda items during the session, including requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, and received an informational presentation on police staffing. The meeting involved eight motions and votes, with the Council approving both the rezoning requests and budget amendments. One member of the public provided comments during the public comment period, and the police staffing presentation served as an informational item for the Council's consideration.

Attendance

All council members were present for the January 22, 2008 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Newberry • CM Peggy Henson • CM Blues • CM McChord • CM Ellinger • CM Myers • CM Stevens • CM Crosbie • CM DeCamp • CM Stinnett • CM Gorton • CM James • CM Blevins • CM Beard • CM Gray • CM Lane

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted eight votes during the January 22, 2008 meeting, all of which passed 0:00.

Docket Placement for Resolution Amendment CM Blues motioned to place on the docket for the January 25, 2008 meeting a resolution amending Resolution No. 59-2006 and Resolution 743-2000, seconded by CM McChord. The motion passed by voice vote.

Meeting Summary Approval CM DeCamp motioned to approve the summary from January 15, 2007, seconded by CM Stinnett. The motion passed by voice vote.

Budget Amendments CM Gorton motioned to approve budget amendments, seconded by CM Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote.

New Business Items CM Gorton motioned to approve new business items A-S, seconded by CM DeCamp. The motion passed unanimously.

Police Division Reorganization CM Stinnett motioned to place on the docket an ordinance relating to the reorganization of the Division of Police, seconded by CM Gorton. The motion passed by voice vote.

Speed Limit Reduction CM DeCamp motioned to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph on Central Ave, seconded by CM McChord. The motion passed by voice vote.

Mayor's Report CM DeCamp motioned to approve the Mayor's report, seconded by CM Gorton. The motion passed by voice vote.

Attorney General Inquiry Vice Mayor Gray motioned to contact the AG's office to inquire if Mr. Rubin's opinion has changed, seconded by CM DeCamp. The motion passed unanimously.

All votes were conducted either by voice vote or unanimously, with no recorded individual vote tallies or opposition noted for any of the motions presented during the meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several financial items totaling $270,000 in contracts and grant activities during the January 22, 2008 meeting.

Professional Service Contracts

Two professional service agreements were approved for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) services:

• Resolution 034-08: Professional Service Agreement with L. Lianne McBride, SANE, for $5,000
• Resolution 035-08: Professional Service Agreement with Sherry Guiller, SANE, for $5,000

Grant Applications and Awards

The Council addressed two significant grant items:

• Resolution 041-08: Approved a grant application to the Kentucky State Police for Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws in the amount of $107,000

• Resolution 040-08: Accepted an award from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the Maxwell Street Bike/Pedestrian Project totaling $153,000

The grant activities represent both incoming funding opportunities and the city's commitment to public safety initiatives. The underage drinking enforcement grant would provide substantial resources for police operations, while the transportation cabinet award will fund infrastructure improvements for bicycle and pedestrian access on Maxwell Street.

Combined with the SANE professional service agreements, these financial actions demonstrate the city's investment in both public safety services and infrastructure development, with the majority of funding coming from external grant sources rather than city resources.

Public Comment

0:00 One member of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period.

Dick Shore spoke to the Council about constructed wetlands as a potential solution for municipal infrastructure challenges. Shore proposed that the city consider implementing constructed wetlands to address both water supply and sewage treatment issues facing the community.

Shore emphasized the cost-effectiveness of constructed wetlands compared to traditional infrastructure approaches, noting their potential financial benefits for the municipality. He also highlighted the environmental advantages of this approach, presenting constructed wetlands as an environmentally sustainable option for managing water resources and wastewater treatment.

The presentation focused on the dual functionality of constructed wetlands systems, which can simultaneously address water supply needs while providing sewage treatment capabilities. Shore's comments suggested that this approach could offer the city a comprehensive solution to multiple infrastructure challenges through a single, integrated system.

Appointments

The Council took action on one appointment during the January 22, 2008 meeting.

• Peggy Henson was appointed as Council Member

The appointment of Peggy Henson to serve as a Council Member was the sole personnel action taken by the Council during this meeting. No additional details regarding the term length, specific responsibilities, or circumstances surrounding this appointment were provided in the available meeting materials.

Contested Items

The January 22, 2008 Council meeting featured one significant contested item that generated heated discussion among council members.

Invitation to Scott Rubin

The primary point of contention centered on whether the council should extend an invitation to Scott Rubin to discuss his testimony before the Public Service Commission (PSC). Council members engaged in a heated debate regarding both the relevance and timing of such an invitation.

The disagreement appeared to focus on fundamental questions about the appropriateness of having Rubin address the council about his PSC testimony. Some council members questioned whether this discussion would be relevant to the council's current business and responsibilities. Additionally, concerns were raised about the timing of the proposed invitation, suggesting there may have been scheduling conflicts or other temporal considerations that made the invitation problematic.

The debate highlighted differing perspectives among council members about the council's role in relation to PSC proceedings and whether bringing in outside speakers to discuss their regulatory testimony fell within the appropriate scope of council business.

While the extracted data indicates this was a heated discussion that consumed significant meeting time, the specific positions taken by individual council members, the detailed arguments presented on either side, and the ultimate outcome of the debate are not specified in the available information. The controversy demonstrates the council's ongoing engagement with utility-related issues and the sometimes contentious nature of decisions about external speakers and their relevance to municipal governance.

Requested Rezonings / Docket Approval

0:00 The Council addressed the placement of resolutions on the docket for the upcoming January 25, 2008 meeting. The discussion focused on amendments to previous resolutions related to Exstream Software.

CM Blues and CM McChord were the key speakers during this agenda item. The Council members discussed the procedural aspects of adding these resolution amendments to the official docket for consideration at the next scheduled meeting.

The resolutions under consideration involved amendments to previously passed measures concerning Exstream Software, though the specific details of the amendments were not elaborated upon during this brief procedural discussion.

The Council approved placing these resolution amendments on the docket for the January 25, 2008 meeting, allowing for full consideration and potential action at that time. This approval was part of the standard docket management process, ensuring that all necessary items would be properly scheduled for Council review and potential adoption.

The item was handled efficiently as a routine procedural matter, with the Council moving forward to formalize the docket placement for the upcoming meeting.

Budget Amendments

0:00

The Council reviewed and approved several budget amendments during the January 22, 2008 meeting. The discussion focused on reallocating funds for various municipal projects and operational needs.

Council Members Gorton and Ellinger led the discussion on the proposed budget amendments. One significant reallocation involved funding for the Carver Center Elevator project, which required adjustments to accommodate project costs and timeline changes.

The amendments addressed multiple budget line items and departmental funding needs that had emerged since the original budget adoption. The Council examined each proposed change to ensure proper allocation of municipal resources and compliance with budgetary requirements.

Following review and discussion of the various amendments, the Council voted to approve the budget modifications as presented. The approved amendments will allow the city to proceed with planned projects and address operational funding requirements that developed during the fiscal year.

The budget amendments were adopted without significant opposition, indicating Council consensus on the necessity and appropriateness of the proposed reallocations.

Police Staffing Presentation

0:00 Chief Bastin presented a comprehensive proposal to reorganize the Division of Police during the January 22, 2008 Council meeting. The presentation outlined significant structural changes aimed at improving supervision and operational efficiency within the department.

The reorganization plan included the creation of new ranks within the police hierarchy to better address supervisory needs and command structure. Chief Bastin explained that these new positions would help fill gaps in the current organizational framework and provide clearer lines of authority and responsibility.

As part of the restructuring, the proposal also called for abolishing certain existing positions that were deemed redundant or no longer necessary under the new organizational model. Chief Bastin indicated that these changes would streamline operations while maintaining effective police services for the community.

The presentation focused on how the reorganization would enhance supervision throughout the department, addressing what Chief Bastin identified as current deficiencies in oversight and management. The proposed changes were designed to create a more efficient command structure that would better serve both the officers and the community.

This was an informational presentation, with Chief Bastin providing details about the rationale behind the proposed changes and how they would be implemented. The reorganization represented a significant shift in how the Division of Police would be structured and managed going forward.

The Council received the presentation as part of their review process, with the information serving to inform future decisions regarding the police department's organizational structure and staffing needs.