Budget Committee of the Whole

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on May 26, 2015, at 10:00 AM in the Council Chambers, with Vice Mayor Kay presiding. The council considered five agenda items, all of which were approved during the meeting. The session included four motions and votes, and the council heard six public comments from members of the community. The agenda focused on departmental link summaries across five major areas: General Government, General Services & Planning, Finance & Social Services, Environmental Quality & Public Works, and Public Safety.

Attendance

Present: - Vice Mayor Kay - Councilmember Scotchfield - Councilmember Akers - Councilmember Brown - Councilmember Evans - Councilmember Henson - Councilmember Stennett - Councilmember Bledsoe - Councilmember Massadi - Councilmember Farmer - Councilmember Lamb - Councilmember Brackett - Councilmember Mossadi - Councilmember Meg - Councilmember Anchors

Absent: - Councilmember Gibbs

Late: None recorded

Votes and Decisions

The council took four votes during this meeting:

Motion to move $24,000 for new cabinets from bond to fund balance 16:01 Councilmember Brown moved this motion. The motion passed by voice vote.

Motion to move $150,000 for People's Bank relocation from bond to fund balance 1:14:03 Councilmember Brown moved this motion. The motion failed by voice vote.

Motion to move $50,000 for tax revenue software from capital to 15 budget 1:42:09 Councilmember Brown moved this motion. The motion failed by voice vote.

Motion to allow Salvation Army to speak during budget discussion 1:50:34 Councilmember Brown moved this motion, seconded by Councilmember Lamb. The motion failed by voice vote with 9 ayes and 3 nays.

Voting in favor were: - Councilmember Brown - Councilmember Akers - Councilmember Evans - Councilmember Henson - Councilmember Stennett - Councilmember Bledsoe - Councilmember Massadi - Councilmember Farmer - Councilmember Lamb

Voting against were: - Councilmember Mossadi - Councilmember Meg - Councilmember Anchors

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included appropriations and grants totaling several million dollars across multiple departments and initiatives.

Public Safety and Emergency Services

The largest appropriations supported public safety infrastructure and equipment. The police department received $800,000 for vehicle allocation and $600,000 for a body camera pilot program. The fire department received $27,850 for a quartermaster technician position and $25,500 for an administrative specialist position. Fire department divisional infrastructure repairs were funded at $500,000, and the Jordan Building project received $400,000. Public safety emergency systems received significant funding: $1,548,700 for a public safety operations center radio tower, $60,000 for an outdoor warning system upgrade, and $30,000 for public safety sirens. Additional public safety funding included $90,250 for virtual desktop interface, $69,500 for a radio repeater at the courthouse, and $176,400 for a fire alarm panel. Smaller allocations supported the CERT program ($3,800), alert notification maintenance ($5,000), and ENS actual cost ($2,500).

Information Technology and Administrative Systems

The largest single appropriation was $3,248,270 for LexServe billing and collection software. A budgeting enterprise system received $1,000,000. The Chief Information Officer received $200,000 for professional services, $10,000 for additional training, and $25,000 for internet connectivity with Time Warner Cable. Tax revenue software was funded at $50,000, and the Division of Revenue received $50,000 for tax revenue software. Central Purchasing received $25,000 for newspaper advertising bids and $24,000 for software maintenance.

Other Departments and Community Grants

The coroner's office received $24,000 for new cabinets. People's Bank relocation was funded at $150,000. Parks and Recreation received $100,000 for a Safe Parks position. Planning Department professional services received $175,000. Risk Management dues were funded at $4,000. Neighborhood Action Match Grants received $20,000, and a new internship program received $10,000. Fund analytics software was funded at $20,000.

Community and Economic Development Grants

Grants to external organizations included: Explorium ($25,000), NOLI CDC ($25,000 for operating support, $45,000 for neighborhood business growth, and $55,000 for public improvement initiatives), World Trade Center ($50,000 for a one-on-one program), LexArts ($50,000 for Oliver Lewis Way Bridge), Commerce Lexington ($50,000 for a workforce study), and Lyric Theater ($30,000 for programming).

Public Comment

Several councilmembers raised concerns about specific budget allocations and processes during the meeting.

Salvation Army Funding

Councilmember Stennett expressed concern about a disconnect between the Salvation Army and the ESR grant process, requesting clarification on how the process was followed 1:52:06.

Jordan Building Project

Councilmember Bledsoe asked for clarification on the Jordan Building project's funding and whether it was prioritized higher than the new fire station at Masterson 2:31:22.

Body Cameras

Multiple councilmembers raised concerns about the proposed body camera allocation:

• Councilmember Evans expressed concern that $600,000 was being allocated without knowing the full cost, particularly regarding storage and staffing needs 2:45:47.

• Councilmember Stinnard emphasized the need for caution in adopting body cameras due to undetermined costs and the potential for misuse of funds 2:48:02.

• Councilmember Scotchfield warned against spending $600,000 without knowing the final cost, expressing concern that the equipment could become outdated quickly 2:50:08.

Domestic Violence Director Position

Councilmember Lamb requested that the council's recommendation to study the domestic violence director position be acknowledged 3:01:24.

Contested Items

The May 26, 2015 meeting included several items that generated significant debate among council members.

Salvation Army Funding

Multiple council members expressed concern about the ESR grant process and the Salvation Army's funding allocation. The primary issue centered on a disconnect between the grant process and its outcomes, raising questions about whether the funding mechanism was achieving its intended results.

Body Cameras

Council members engaged in heated discussion over a $600,000 allocation for body cameras. Concerns raised included undetermined costs beyond the initial allocation, questions about data storage requirements, staffing needs to manage the program, and the risk of committing substantial funds to technology that could become outdated. The debate reflected uncertainty about the full scope and long-term financial implications of the body camera initiative.

Jordan Building Project

The council was divided on the Jordan Building project funding approach. The disagreement centered on whether to fund the project from the fund balance or through bonding. Council members expressed concerns about project prioritization and the implications for long-term financial planning, indicating fundamental differences in how the council viewed the project's urgency relative to other municipal needs.

People's Bank Relocation

Council members engaged in heated debate regarding the use of public funds to relocate a private building. The core concern involved the appropriateness of using municipal resources for a private entity's relocation, with council members raising questions about establishing precedent and ensuring adequate public benefit from the expenditure.

General Government Link Summary

The General Government Link reviewed and made recommendations on 25 departmental budgets during this discussion 6:04. The committee addressed the Mayor's Proposed Budget, accepting it for most departments while providing specific recommendations for targeted adjustments.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Councilmember Scotchfield, Councilmember Brown, and Councilmember Akers.

Actions and Recommendations

The committee's review resulted in recommendations that included:

• Accepting the Mayor's Proposed Budget for the majority of departments
• Recommending funding increases for select departments
• Recommending funding reductions for select departments
• Requesting RFI (Request for Information) submissions from certain departments
• Recommending audits of specific departmental operations

Outcome

The General Government Link's recommendations on the 25 departmental budgets were approved.

General Services & Planning Link Summary

The General Services & Planning Link reviewed and made recommendations on 13 departmental budgets during this discussion item 50:52.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Councilmember Akers, Councilmember Stennett, and Councilmember Bledsoe.

Content and Recommendations

The Link reviewed departmental budgets and made specific recommendations addressing:

• Support for the Mayor's Proposed Budget
• Capital projects
• Staffing levels
• Non-budgetary actions including collaboration requirements and reporting requirements

Outcome

The agenda item was approved.

Finance & Social Services Link Summary

The Finance & Social Services Link reviewed and made recommendations on six departmental budgets during this discussion item. 1:36:40

Key Participants

The discussion involved Councilmember Lamb, Councilmember Evans, and Councilmember Henson.

Content and Recommendations

The Link reviewed departmental budgets and made specific recommendations supporting the Mayor's Proposed Budget. These recommendations included funding increases for certain departments, software acquisitions, and non-budgetary actions.

Outcome

The agenda item was approved.

Environmental Quality & Public Works Link Summary

The Environmental Quality & Public Works Link committee reviewed and made recommendations on six departmental budgets during this discussion 2:09:50. Key participants in this agenda item included Councilmember Farmer and Councilmember Stennett.

The committee's work focused on supporting the Mayor's Proposed Budget while providing specific recommendations across multiple areas:

• Capital projects
• Staffing levels
• Policy actions

The committee approved the recommendations and outcomes of their budget review process. The discussion resulted in an approved outcome for this agenda item.

Public Safety Link Summary

The Public Safety Link reviewed and made recommendations on 10 departmental budgets during this agenda item 2:22:11. The discussion was led by Councilmember Fred Brown and Councilmember Mossadi.

The Public Safety Link supported the Mayor's Proposed Budget and provided specific recommendations across three areas:

• Capital projects
• Staffing
• Non-budgetary actions

The outcome of this agenda item was approved.