Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on November 18, 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 nine agenda items during the session, including public comment periods, rezoning requests, budget amendments, and various reports. The body took 21 votes and heard 3 public comments from members of the public. All substantive agenda items were approved, including requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, new business, and the mayor's report, while council reports and public comment on issues not on the agenda were handled as informational items.

Attendance

Present: Gorton, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Lawless, Beard, Farmer, Stinnett, Scutchfield, Myers, Mossotti, Clarke, Henson, and Lane

Absent: Akers

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included 21 votes on various matters, with most passing by voice vote and two decided by roll call.

Docket and Agenda Items [timestamp: 0:01:00 - 0:04:30]

The council approved the docket for the November 13, 2014 Council meeting (motion by Julian Beard, seconded by Ellinger). The council also placed several items on the docket: a resolution authorizing the Mayor to negotiate and execute a Grant Agreement with Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems for the Jobs Fund Program (motion by Beard, seconded by Gorton); bond issuance resolutions and ordinances (motion by Ellinger, seconded by Henson); a resolution authorizing installation of No Through Truck signs along Southpoint Drive and Clearwater Way (motion by Mossotti, seconded by Gorton); and a resolution establishing a Residential Parking Permit Program for the first 300 feet of the East end of the 600 block of Mount Vernon Drive (motion by Lawless, seconded by Myers). All passed by voice vote.

Administrative and Budget Matters [timestamp: 0:07:08 - 0:24:45]

The council approved the October 21, 2014 summary (motion by Stinnett, seconded by Mossotti) and budget amendments (motion by Stinnett, seconded by Gorton). New business items a through u and w through gg passed with 13 votes in favor and 1 against (Farmer voting no). The council approved neighborhood development funds (motion by Gorton, seconded by Clarke), contingency assignments as proposed by the Administration (motion by Gorton, seconded by Farmer), and directed the Administration to proceed with a $2.9 million Qualified Energy Conservation Bond (motion by Gorton, seconded by Henson). An additional $1.5 million was allocated to the Fire Station #2 relocation (motion by Gorton, seconded by Henson). The Mayor's Report was approved (motion by Gorton, seconded by Farmer). All passed by voice vote.

ESR Funding and Other Matters [timestamp: 0:41:40 - 1:03:22]

A motion to approve the biannual application cycle for ESR funding passed by roll call with 8 ayes and 6 nays. Voting in favor were Ford, Akers, Ellinger, Kay, Stinnett, Beard, Lane, and Henson. Voting against were Farmer and Myers.

A motion to allow collaborative ESR program applications with a 5-point bonus passed by roll call with 11 ayes and 3 nays. Voting in favor were Ford, Akers, Ellinger, Kay, Stinnett, Beard, Lane, Henson, Myers, Clark, and Massadi. Voting against were Farmer, Lane, and Akers.

Additional voice votes approved a lump sum amount for ESR funding, a letter of intent process prior to formal ESR application, a budget link requirement with the Department of Social Services Commissioner, the home care match agreement split, and an amendment to Article 22 for the Planned Unit Development 2 Zone. A resolution recommending the Mayor not sign the Amended Interlocal Cooperative Agreement also passed by voice vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting approved the following financial actions and agreements:

Grants - A $100,000 grant agreement with Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems for the Jobs Fund Program (Resolution 0073-26) - A $200,000 Brownfields Cleanup Grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency for the Fayette County Courthouse Property (L1174-14)

Bond Issuance - Authorization for $32,000,000 in General Obligation Bonds and Energy Conservation Bonds (Ordinance 0130-26)

Professional Services Contracts - A $45,000 Professional Services Agreement with Miller Wells, PLLC for water utility franchise negotiations (L1185-14) - Change Order #1 to EOP Architects' Professional Services Contract for an old courthouse structural study in the amount of $9,573.75 (L1193-14) - Modification No. 2 to the Engineering Services Agreement with GRW Engineers, Inc. for the Liberty/Todds Road Section Phase 2 Improvement Project for $437,946 (L1192-14) - Engagement of AMTEC for Arbitrage Calculations for LFUCG Taxable Sewer System Revenue Bonds for $6,000 (L1176-14)

Personnel and Administrative Actions - Authorization to abolish one Computer Analyst position and create one Systems Analyst position within the Division of Computer Services, with a financial impact of $1,763 (L1135-14)

Partnership Approval - Approval of partnership agreements with the US Treasury and Internal Revenue Service for the VITA/TCE program (L1199-14)

Public Comment

Three council members addressed the body during the public comment period.

Sound System in Council Chambers

Council Member Lane reported issues with the sound system in the Council Chambers, noting inconsistent sound levels and misaligned speakers. He suggested relocating speakers to improve audio clarity. 1:50:32

Sanders Brown Center on Aging Symposium

Council Member Lane announced that he would be absent from the Thursday council meeting to attend the Sanders Brown Center on Aging's third annual Marksberry Symposium on Alzheimer's and Dementia. 1:51:44

Centerpoint Developments Report

Council Member Ford requested a detailed report on Centerpoint developments. The request followed a Herald-Leader article and sought information on bond sales, crane arrival, and tenant status. 1:52:46

Contested Items

The Council addressed two contentious matters related to ESR (Environmental Services Review) funding during this meeting.

Biannual ESR Funding Cycle

The Council voted on a motion to approve a biannual application cycle for ESR funding. The motion passed 8-6, indicating significant division among Council members. Council Members Stinnett, Beard, and Lane dissented from the majority position. These three members raised concerns about the impact of the biannual cycle on new council members and potential barriers to program access that the new schedule might create.

Collaborative ESR Program Applications and Bonus Points

The Council also considered a motion to award a 5-point bonus for collaborative applications within the ESR program. This motion passed with stronger support, 11-3. However, Council Members Stinnett, Beard, and Lane again opposed the measure. Their objections centered on fairness concerns and worries about subjective evaluation in the application process. They questioned whether the bonus structure would be applied equitably across all applicants.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00

During this agenda item, council members discussed the America in Bloom recognition and made procedural adjustments to the meeting order. Council members Gorton, Scutchfield, and Ellinger participated in the discussion.

The council approved a motion to move the America in Bloom recognition to the beginning of the meeting, adjusting the original agenda sequence.

Additionally, the council approved a motion to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussing litigation matters and employee appointment decisions.

The outcome of this agenda item was approved.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

1:00

The council approved the docket for the November 13 meeting and placed several items on it for consideration.

Items Placed on Docket

The approved docket included the following items:

• A Jobs Fund grant
• Bond issuances
• Traffic sign installations
• A residential parking permit program

Key Speakers

The discussion involved council members Beard, Ellinger, Mossotti, and Lawless.

Outcome

The docket was approved.

Approval of Summary

The October 21, 2014 summary was presented for approval 7:08. Key speakers Stinnett and Mossotti participated in this agenda item.

The summary was approved without dissent.

Budget Amendments

Budget amendments were discussed and approved during this agenda item. 7:44

The amendments included transfers for three primary purposes: debt service, traffic signal funding, and broadband project support. Key speakers in this discussion were Stinnett, Gorton, Ellinger, and Beard.

The amendments were approved by the body.

New Business

21:59

During the New Business section, the board considered and approved several items including staff position changes, grant applications, legal services, and contract modifications.

Key speakers during this discussion included Mossotti, Farmer, Kay, Myers, Henson, and Stinnett.

A significant action item was the biannual ESR funding cycle, which was put to a vote and passed with a 4-3 vote count.

The outcome of the New Business section was approval of the items presented.

Continuing Business/Presentations

22:31

During this agenda item, the council addressed neighborhood development funds and contingency assignments, along with a presentation on an amendment to Article 22 regarding Planned Unit Development 2 (PUD-2) zoning.

Presentation and Support

A presentation was delivered on the proposed amendment to Article 22 for PUD-2 zoning. The proposal received support from multiple community organizations, indicating broader community backing for the initiative.

Key Participants

The discussion involved council members Gorton, Akers, Clark, King, Cohn, Young, Nunn, and Van Meter.

Outcome

The council approved the neighborhood development funds and contingency assignments presented during this agenda item.

Council Reports

Council Member Lane reported on two matters during this agenda item. First, Lane addressed sound system issues that required attention. Additionally, Lane provided an update on the Sanders Brown Center symposium.

Council Member Ford requested a report on Centerpoint developments, raising this as a topic of interest for the council.

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The discussion occurred approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes into the meeting.

Mayor's Report

The Mayor's Report was presented as Agenda Item VIII during the November 18, 2014 meeting 24:45. Key speakers on this item included Gorton and Farmer.

The report was approved without dissent.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

1:50:32

During this portion of the meeting, council members raised several concerns about matters not listed on the formal agenda.

Issues Discussed

Council members Lane and Ford brought attention to three primary topics:

• The Council Chambers sound system
• The Sanders Brown Center symposium
• Centerpoint developments

Outcome

This segment was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The discussion allowed council members to raise and address concerns outside the structured agenda items.