Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on April 30, 2015, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding. The meeting featured three agenda items, including two informational presentations and one ordinance receiving its first reading. Council members heard one public comment during the session and conducted five motions and votes throughout the proceedings.

The meeting included a presentation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and a recognition ceremony for Pellom McDaniels. The primary legislative business involved the first reading of an ordinance related to the Downtown Lexington Management District. The session provided opportunities for both ceremonial recognitions and substantive policy discussion as the council advanced municipal business.

Attendance

The following members were present at the April 30, 2015 meeting:

Present: • Mayor Gray • Lane • Moloney • Scutchfield • Stinnett • Akers • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs • Henson • Kay • Lamb

Absent: • Mossotti

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 15 members were present with 1 member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted five votes during the April 30, 2015 meeting, with all motions passing.

Approval of Minutes Councilmember Scutchfield motioned to approve the minutes from the April 16, 2015 Council Meeting, seconded by Henson. The motion passed unanimously with all 15 members voting in favor: Lane, Moloney, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Akers, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, and Lamb.

Downtown Management District Amendment Gibbs motioned to amend the Downtown Lexington Management District ordinance by removing the word "tax," with Henson providing the second. The amendment passed unanimously 15-0, with the same members voting in favor. This amendment required a new first reading of the ordinance.

Second Reading Ordinances Akers motioned to approve various ordinances on second reading, seconded by Kay. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all 15 members voting yes and no opposition.

Ordinance Removal Lamb motioned to remove an ordinance from the docket due to typographical errors, with Bledsoe seconding the motion. The removal passed unanimously 15-0, with all present members supporting the motion.

Idle Hour Park Project Resolution Stinnett motioned to approve a resolution for the Idle Hour Park Demolition and Football Field Construction Project, seconded by Kay. The resolution passed on a roll call vote 12-0, with support from Lane, Moloney, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Farmer, Henson, Gibbs, Kay, and Lamb. Three members were apparently absent for this vote, as only 12 votes were recorded compared to 15 for previous items.

All motions passed without any opposing votes, demonstrating unanimous or near-unanimous support for the items considered.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed multiple significant financial commitments totaling over $4.2 million in contracts and grants across various municipal projects and services.

Major Infrastructure Contracts: • Meadows/Northland/Arlington Public Improvements Project, Phase 5B - $795,649.25 contract awarded to Bluegrass Contracting Corp. (Resolution 0069-15) • Anniston-Wickland Phase 3 Project - $989,346.05 contract with LAGCO, Inc. (Resolution 0392-15) • Brighton East Rail Trail Project - Phase II - $525,211.17 contract to Randle-Davies Construction Co. (Resolution 0353-15) • Legacy Trail Flag Pole Base Construction - $119,600 contract with Angel Contracting, LLC (Resolution 0412-15)

Equipment and Services: • Emergency Operations Center Generator - $33,995 contract with Evapar, Inc. (Resolution 0435-15) • Haley Pike Landfill Services - $90,000 contract to AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. (Resolution 0082-15)

Grant Authorizations: • Town Branch Trail Design - $1,278,000 grant from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for Phases IV, V, and VI design work (Resolution 0264-15) • Safety and Justice Challenge Grant - $150,000 from MacArthur Foundation (Resolution 0389-15) • Class B Infrastructure Incentive Grant - $175,000 for stormwater quality projects to Link-Belt Construction Equipment Company, L.P., LLLP (Resolution 0393-15) • Summit Biosciences Forgivable Incentive Agreement - $100,000 (Resolution 0330-15) • Police Overtime for Distracted Driving Enforcement - $30,000 from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Highway Safety Programs (Resolution 0404-15)

These financial actions encompass trail development, public infrastructure improvements, emergency preparedness equipment, environmental services, and public safety initiatives, representing a comprehensive investment in municipal infrastructure and services.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the meeting during the public comment period.

Susan Delph spoke about two separate issues affecting the community. She raised concerns about snow conditions on downtown sidewalks and roads, though the specific nature of her concerns was not detailed in the available records. Ms. Delph also discussed a proposal related to paper recycling during her remarks.

No transcript timestamps were available for this portion of the meeting, so the exact timing of Ms. Delph's comments could not be determined from the provided materials.

Appointments

The council approved multiple appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions during the meeting.

Board of Health • Peggy Henson was appointed to the Board of Health • Dianet Valencia was reappointed to the Board of Health

Commission on Citizens with Disabilities • Margaret Allison was appointed to the Commission on Citizens with Disabilities • David Beach was appointed to the Commission on Citizens with Disabilities

Corridors Commission • Amanda Bledsoe was appointed to the Corridors Commission • Jennifer Scutchfield was appointed to the Corridors Commission

Other Board Appointments • Jennifer Crockett was appointed to CASA of Lexington • Amanda Bledsoe was appointed to the City Employees' Pension Fund Board • John Parker was appointed to the Homelessness Prevention & Intervention Board • Charles Denham was appointed to the Infrastructure Hearing Board

Reappointments • Don Robinson was reappointed to the Rural Land Management Board • Chris Ford was reappointed to the Social Services Advisory Board

Amanda Bledsoe received appointments to two separate boards during this meeting - both the City Employees' Pension Fund Board and the Corridors Commission. The appointments represent a mix of new members joining various city boards and existing members being reappointed to continue their service.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the April 30, 2015 meeting was the proposed ordinance to establish the Downtown Lexington Management District.

Downtown Lexington Management District Opposition

The ordinance faced community opposition, with several residents and property owners expressing concerns about the potential impact on downtown property owners. The disagreement centered on how the management district would affect existing businesses and property holders in the downtown area.

Community members voiced objections during the public comment period, though the specific nature of their concerns regarding property owner impacts was not detailed in the available meeting materials. The opposition appeared to focus on the financial and operational implications the management district would have on those who own property within the proposed district boundaries.

The outcome of this contested item and whether the council proceeded with the ordinance despite the community opposition was not specified in the available meeting documentation.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this meeting's contested items discussion.*

Presentation - Child Abuse Prevention Month

Mayor Gray and Ms. Akers delivered a presentation recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, focusing on the important work being conducted by Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. The presentation served as an informational item to raise awareness about child abuse prevention efforts in the community.

The presentation highlighted the ongoing initiatives and programs supported by Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, an organization dedicated to preventing child maltreatment through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Jill Siefred also participated as a key speaker during this agenda item, contributing to the discussion about child abuse prevention efforts.

This agenda item (0556-15) was designated as an informational presentation, meaning no formal action was required from the governing body. The purpose was to educate attendees and the public about the significance of Child Abuse Prevention Month and the resources available through Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky.

The presentation emphasized the community's commitment to protecting children and supporting families, aligning with the annual national observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. By bringing this topic to the public meeting, the speakers aimed to increase awareness of child abuse prevention programs and encourage community involvement in these critical efforts.

No specific concerns were raised during this presentation, and the outcome was purely informational, serving to fulfill the educational and awareness-raising objectives of recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month at the municipal level.

Recognition - Pellom McDaniels

The city recognized Dr. Pellom McDaniels for his significant contributions and achievements during this presentation agenda item (0565-15). Mayor Gray and Billie Mallory served as key speakers during the recognition ceremony, along with remarks from Dr. McDaniels himself.

Dr. McDaniels was specifically acknowledged for his scholarly work, including his book "The Prince of Jockeys." The recognition highlighted his contributions to literature and research, though the specific details of his other accomplishments were not detailed in the available materials.

The agenda item was structured as an informational presentation, allowing the city to formally honor Dr. McDaniels' work and provide him an opportunity to address the meeting. This type of recognition serves to acknowledge community members who have made notable contributions in their fields of expertise.

The recognition proceeded as a ceremonial presentation without debate or discussion of concerns, as is typical for such honorary agenda items. The outcome was purely informational, serving to publicly acknowledge Dr. McDaniels' achievements and contributions to the community.

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

Downtown Lexington Management District

The council considered Ordinance 0480-15 to establish the Downtown Lexington Management District during its first reading. The proposed ordinance underwent amendments during discussion, with key changes focusing on terminology.

The primary modification involved changing references from "tax" to "assessment" throughout the ordinance language. This amendment was discussed by several council members, including Gibbs and Henson, who participated in the debate over the appropriate terminology for the district's funding mechanism.

Dave Barberie also contributed to the discussion regarding the establishment of this management district, which would create a formal structure for downtown area governance and funding.

The ordinance represents an effort to establish a dedicated management framework for Lexington's downtown area, with the district presumably having authority to collect assessments from property owners or businesses within its boundaries to fund downtown improvements and services.

Following the discussion and amendments, the ordinance completed its first reading. As with all ordinances, it will require additional readings and votes before final adoption. The terminology change from "tax" to "assessment" suggests council members wanted to clarify the nature of the financial obligations that would be imposed on district participants.

The establishment of such a management district would provide a formal mechanism for coordinated downtown development, maintenance, and promotional activities, funded through the assessment structure outlined in the amended ordinance.