Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on September 23, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Jim Gray presiding. The council addressed ten agenda items during the meeting, including public comment periods, rezoning requests, budget matters, and proclamations. The body took ten motions and votes, approving the majority of items brought before it, including requested rezonings, budget amendments, neighborhood development funds, and a proclamation recognizing McConnell Springs' 20th anniversary. One public comment was heard during the meeting. The council also received informational reports from council members and the mayor's office.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on September 23, 2014:

• Mayor Jim Gray
• Council Member Clark
• Council Member Lane
• Council Member Scottsville
• Council Member Ellinger
• Council Member Kaye
• Council Member Farmer
• Council Member Scotchfield
• Council Member Stenet
• Council Member Henson
• Council Member Myers
• Council Member Mossadi
• Council Member Gordon
• Council Member Massati
• Council Member Stennett

No council members were absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

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

Rezoning Docket 4:10 Council Member Ellinger moved to approve the docket of rezoning requests for the September 25, 2014 Council meeting, seconded by Council Member Beard. The motion passed.

Rezoning: 2500 Polo Club Boulevard 5:14 Council Member Lane moved to place on the docket without a public hearing an ordinance changing the zone from an expansion area residential 3 transition area (EAR3/TA) zone to a community center (CC) zone for property at 2500 Polo Club Boulevard (Identifier: 0974-14), seconded by Vice Mayor Gordon. The motion passed.

Rezoning: 3400 Todd's Road 6:24 Council Member Scottsville moved to place on the docket without a public hearing an ordinance changing the zone from a single-family residential (R1D) zone to a high-density apartment (R4) zone for property at 3400 Todd's Road (Identifier: 0974-14), seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed.

Xerox Lease Agreement 7:34 Council Member Kaye moved to place on the docket a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a lease agreement with Xerox Corporation Limited for two Xerox printers, seconded by Council Member Farmer. The motion passed.

September 9, 2014 Work Session Summary 8:35 Vice Mayor Gordon moved to approve the September 9, 2014 work session summary, seconded by Council Member Scutchfield. The motion passed.

Budget Amendments 9:08 Council Member Beard moved to approve budget amendments, seconded by Council Member Scutchfield. The motion passed.

New Business Items 19:11 Vice Mayor Gordon moved to approve new business items, seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed.

Neighborhood Development Funds 24:53 Council Member Stennett moved to approve neighborhood development funds for September 23, 2014, seconded by Council Member Scotchfield. The motion passed.

Committee Meeting Schedule 31:17 Council Member Farmer moved to change the time and date of the Planning and Public Works Committee and Public Safety Committee meetings, seconded by Council Member Henson. The motion passed.

Adjournment 40:12 Council Member Stennett moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included authorization for multiple contracts, grants, and budget amendments totaling significant financial commitments across various city departments and programs.

Contracts and Agreements

The city authorized a three-year lease agreement (L0960-14) with VAR via CDW-G to provide Apple MacBook Pro Laptops to the Coroner's office for $4,420.36. An Engineering Services Agreement (L0981-14) with URS Corporation for the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Regional Intelligent Transportation System Architecture Study was approved for $77,250.00. The city also authorized agreements with Funai Lexington Technology Corporation (L0978-14) and Creative Lodgings Solutions, LLC (L0979-14) to participate in the Kentucky Business Investment Program, with no fiscal impact. An agreement with Lexington Center Corporation (L0972-14) for use of the Opera House for the Kiddie Kaper recital in May 2015 was approved with no fiscal impact.

Grants

The city accepted a $34,405.00 award (L0977-14) from the U.S. Department of Justice under the 2014 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. Authorization was granted to submit an application and accept a $28,150.00 award (L0965-14) from the Kentucky Justice Cabinet under the Violence Against Women Act Program for continuation of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program in FY 2015. The city also authorized submission of applications to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for federal Transportation Alternatives Program funds (L0971-14) with no fiscal impact.

Donations and Budget Amendments

The city accepted a donation of 30 hardhats from Bullard (L0983-14) for the groundbreaking of the new senior center at Idle Hour Park.

Numerous budget amendments were approved, including $467,278.13 for a Fire Truck in the Division of Fire and Emergency Services, $149,036.20 to establish grant budget for the Kentucky Pride Program, and $148,670.00 to establish grant budget for Emergency Management 2015 personnel costs. Additional amendments addressed Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program funding, ad valorem budget adjustments, and various departmental operating needs totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Public Comment

35:19

Robin Osgood addressed the council with concerns about public safety during severe weather events. She urged the establishment of storm shelters at the transit center and other public buildings, citing dangerous conditions that residents face during severe weather. Osgood drew on personal experiences with lightning and tornadoes to emphasize the importance of accessible shelter infrastructure.

In addition to her primary concern about weather shelters, Osgood advocated for two other community initiatives: converting vacant properties into community gardens and supporting veterans through home restoration projects.

Contested Items

Funding for Brighton Trail Bridge

Council Member Stenet raised concerns about the submission of a full funding request for the Brighton Trail Bridge project. Stenet questioned whether the council could make informed decisions without complete knowledge of the project's financial status, particularly given that prior funds had been lost due to inactivity.

The core disagreement centered on proceeding with the funding request under these circumstances. This item resulted in a split vote among council members, indicating that the council was divided on whether to move forward with the request as presented.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

3:33

No members of the public signed up to speak on issues on the agenda. As a result, this portion of the meeting proceeded without public comment, allowing the meeting to move directly to rezoning motions and docket approval.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

4:10

Three rezoning motions were placed on the docket for approval without public hearings. The rezonings involved the following properties:

• 950 960 9619 73 980 Midnight Past 3101 Wall Street and 330 52 and 3084 Beaumont Center Circle
• 2500 Polo Club Boulevard
• 3400 Todd's Road

Council Members Clark, Lane, and Scottsville participated in the consideration of these items. All three rezoning motions were approved without discussion.

Approval of Summary

The council approved the summary from the September 9, 2014 work session without dissent. 8:35

Vice Mayor Gordon moved to approve the summary, and Council Member Scutchfield seconded the motion. The summary was subsequently approved.

Budget Amendments

A motion to approve budget amendments was presented and passed without discussion 9:08.

The amendments encompassed adjustments to multiple funds, including:

• Personnel recovery for Kentucky Pride
• Reimbursements
• Grants for emergency management and public safety

Council Member Beard and Council Member Scutchfield were the key speakers on this agenda item.

Outcome: The budget amendments were approved.

New Business

9:08

The council discussed several new business items during this portion of the meeting.

Items Discussed:

• Short-term telecommunication franchise agreement
• Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) applications
• Brighton Trail Bridge funding request

Key Concerns:

Council Member Stenet raised concerns about the potential loss of previously allocated funds for the Brighton Trail Bridge due to inactivity. This issue was a focal point of the discussion as the council considered the implications of the funding timeline.

Participants:

The discussion involved Council Member Farmer, Council Member Stenet, Council Member Kay, and Commissioner Paulson.

Outcome:

The new business items were approved.

Neighborhood Development Funds, September 23, 2014

24:53

The council approved $4,225 in neighborhood development funds distributed among five recipients during this agenda item.

Approved Recipients and Allocations

The following organizations received funding:

• Center for Entrepreneurship Services
• Athens-Chilesburg Elementary PTA
• Radio Eye, Inc.
• Miss KY Scholarship
• Division of Environmental Policy

Key Participants

Council Member Stennett and Council Member Scotchfield were the primary speakers on this agenda item.

Outcome

The council approved the neighborhood development funds as presented.

Proclamation: McConnell Springs 20th Anniversary

A proclamation was adopted to commemorate the 20th anniversary of McConnell Springs 19:55. The proclamation recognized McConnell Springs as the founding location of Lexington and honored the Friends of McConnell Springs for their preservation and educational efforts.

Mayor Jim Gray, Jim Redman, Dick Mathy, and Steve Rogers participated in the discussion of this agenda item. The proclamation was approved.

Council Reports

Council members provided updates on various community activities and administrative matters during this informational segment of the meeting.

Activities and Events

Council Member Scotchfield, Council Member Massati, Council Member Henson, Council Member Myers, and Council Member Farmer shared reports on several upcoming and recent initiatives:

• A book event honoring Joan Walsh Angland
• A stream clean scheduled at Gardenside Park
• A cookout related to the Gainesway-Smaray plan

Administrative Request

Council members also raised a request to change committee meeting schedules, though specific details about the proposed changes were not provided in the available information.

Outcome

This segment was informational in nature, with council members sharing updates rather than taking formal action on the matters discussed.

25:27

Mayor's Report

The Mayor's Report was presented to the council at approximately 34 minutes and 39 seconds into the meeting. 34:39

The report was approved without discussion. Vice Mayor Gordon moved to approve the report, and Council Member Mossadi seconded the motion. The item passed without further deliberation or concerns raised by council members.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

35:19

Robin Osgood addressed the council regarding two community safety and development concerns not listed on the agenda.

Storm Shelter Needs

Ms. Osgood raised safety concerns about the lack of storm shelters at public facilities during severe weather events. She specifically identified the transit center and the library as locations where storm shelters should be established to protect community members during dangerous weather conditions.

Community Revitalization

Ms. Osgood also advocated for community revitalization efforts focused on two areas:

• Reuse of vacant properties in the community
• Restoration of housing for veterans

Outcome

This item was informational in nature. Council Member Farmer participated in the discussion, though no specific action or resolution was documented as a result of the public comment.