Environmental Quality Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Environmental Quality Committee met on November 18, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., with Stinnett presiding. The committee addressed four agenda items during the session, hearing two informational presentations and taking action on one matter. The committee took four votes and heard seven public comments during the meeting.

The agenda included an informational update on the Distillery District, a presentation of the Empower Lexington Annual Report, approval of the Monthly Financials, and consideration of Items Referred. The Monthly Financials were approved by the committee, while the other three items were presented for informational purposes only.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on November 18, 2014:

• Stinnett
• Mossotti
• Gorton
• Akers
• Farmer
• Scutchfield
• Myers
• Clarke
• Henson
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took four votes during this meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

October 14, 2014 Committee Summary 1:00 Motion by Farmer, seconded by Myers, to approve the October 14, 2014 Committee Summary. The motion passed unanimously with no abstentions.

Budget Amendment for Capital Equipment 1:00 Motion by Gorton, seconded by Clarke, to have Administration bring back a budget amendment reallocating older inactive bond proceeds to provide approximately $321,000 for capital equipment related to the reorganization of landscaping and forestry functions into the Division of Environmental Services. The motion passed unanimously with no abstentions.

Divisional Reorganization 1:00 Motion by Farmer, seconded by Clarke, to change the name of the Division of Environmental Policy to the Division of Environmental Services, transfer three civil service positions from Parks to Environmental Services, and initiate necessary budget amendments for the reorganization of landscaping and forestry functions. The motion passed unanimously with no abstentions.

Professional Services Requests 1:00 Motion by Farmer, seconded by Myers, to include three professional services requests related to the reorganization of landscaping and forestry functions: - Tree Removal and County Road Maintenance ($80,000) - Corridors Landscaping and Maintenance ($70,000) - Corridors Beautification/Breeders Cup Preparation ($100,000)

The motion passed unanimously with no abstentions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting approved three financial actions totaling $9,009,770 for infrastructure and planning projects.

Town Branch Trail Funding

Two grants were approved for the Town Branch Trail project:

• Phases 4 and 5: $5,100,000 grant for design and construction funding
• Phase 6: $3,800,000 grant for design funding

Hydrology Study Contract

A contract was awarded to Vision Engineering for $109,770 to conduct a hydrology study for the Distillery District and surrounding watershed.

Public Comment

The meeting included comments from council members and a community member addressing various aspects of Distillery District development and related infrastructure projects.

Distillery District Development Updates

Tony Higdon provided an update on recent renovations at the Pepper Distillery 30:58. He shared that a new microbrewery is set to open by the end of the month, with a restaurant opening in December. He also noted ongoing development throughout the district.

Hydrology Study and Bond Funds

Council Member Kay raised questions about the scope of the hydrology study and the potential reallocation of remaining bond funds 15:10. He noted that the study had saved money compared to initial estimates and asked whether unused funds could be redirected to other projects.

Council Member Myers similarly inquired about the $1.5 million remaining from the hydrology study bond 26:38. He noted that these funds had been unused for four years and suggested they could be better deployed for other city projects.

Council Member Rakers asked whether the hydrology study would include efforts to update FEMA flood maps through CLOMER and LOMER processes 28:48. He indicated this would help property owners avoid waivers and streamline development.

Stream Restoration and District Planning

Council Member Henson expressed interest in the proposed stream restoration project in the Distillery District 17:53. He suggested that the group leading the restoration effort should present their plans to the committee to ensure alignment and community support.

Council Member Clark questioned whether a unified design or development plan exists for the Distillery District 25:02. He noted that current development appears to be developer-led with limited city-led planning guidance.

Infrastructure Coordination

Council Member Akers asked whether a dedicated coordinator, referred to as a "Sherpa," had been assigned to manage infrastructure planning for Phase 6 22:52. He emphasized the importance of coordinating with utility providers and city departments.

Contested Items

Use of Remaining Bond Funds from Hydrology Study

Council members were divided on how to handle $1.5 million in remaining funds from a hydrology study bond. The core disagreement centered on whether these funds should be reallocated to other projects or reserved for future use in the Distillery District.

Those advocating for reallocation expressed concerns about the opportunity cost of keeping the money idle long-term. They argued that funds sitting unused represented a missed opportunity to advance other municipal priorities. In contrast, those supporting reservation of the funds emphasized the importance of maintaining resources specifically designated for the Distillery District's future development needs.

The debate reflected broader questions about fiscal management: whether it was more prudent to commit remaining bond funds to immediate projects or to preserve them for planned future work in the district. The vote resulted in a split decision among council members, indicating no clear consensus on the best use of the funds.

Distillery District Update

Commissioner Derek Paulson provided an update on the Distillery District, covering multiple aspects of ongoing and planned projects in the area. 2:04

Project Status

The presentation addressed the status of the hydrology study and funding for various phases of the Town Branch Trail. Paulson discussed design and construction funding for Phases 4 and 5 of the trail, as well as design funding for Phase 6.

Development and Infrastructure

The update included information on ongoing development activity within the Distillery District. Paulson also presented details regarding a proposed stream restoration project in the area.

Challenges

Infrastructure coordination challenges were identified as part of the discussion, indicating potential complexities in managing multiple projects and development efforts within the district.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal action or decision required from the body.

Empower Lexington Annual Report

Blaine Early presented the annual report on the Empower Lexington initiative 33:12, providing an overview of progress across multiple sectors of the community's energy and sustainability efforts.

Presentation Focus

The report highlighted achievements and ongoing work in energy efficiency across five key areas:

• Residential sector initiatives
• Transportation improvements
• Commercial sector programs
• Industrial sector engagement
• Waste reduction efforts

Key Initiatives

The presentation emphasized the initiative's commitment to data collection and community engagement as foundational elements of the program. Early outlined the specific goals driving Empower Lexington's work, including reducing per capita energy use across the community and achieving zero waste by 2020.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal action or debate recorded. The presentation served to update the meeting participants on the status and direction of the Empower Lexington initiative.

Monthly Financials

53:34

The committee reviewed the monthly financials during this agenda item. O'Meara presented financial reports covering multiple funds, including:

• Sanitary Sewers
• Water Quality
• Landfill
• Urban Services

No questions were raised by committee members regarding the presented financial information. The monthly financials were accepted as presented and approved.

Items Referred

54:05

The committee identified two items for referral to the next meeting. Stinnett noted that the agenda would include a Distillery District Development Update and the public portion of the Empower Lexington Plan.

The committee also discussed an administrative change regarding committee structure. The Environmental Quality Committee will be renamed to the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee effective in 2015.

The outcome of this discussion was informational, establishing the items and structural changes for future proceedings.