Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on September 24, 2015, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding. The meeting addressed nine agenda items, including three recognition presentations and six ordinances covering budget amendments, personnel changes, and zoning matters. Council members took two formal votes during the session, while also hearing two public comments from community members. The meeting featured presentations of the Spirit of Lexington Award to Yvonne Giles and recognitions for Chris King and the Lexington Chamber Chorale, alongside substantive legislative business including budget modifications and zoning considerations that resulted in a mix of approvals, deferrals, and first readings.

Attendance

The following members were present at the September 24, 2015 meeting:

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

Absent: • Kay

Late Arrivals: • Akers • Mossotti

Note: Both Akers and Mossotti were initially absent but arrived late to the meeting and are therefore counted as present for the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the September 24, 2015 meeting, both passing unanimously.

Ordinance 1156-15 - Amending certain budgets to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures, Schedule No. 7, was motioned by Ms. Lamb and seconded by Mr. Farmer. The ordinance passed by roll call vote with 14 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. Council members voting in favor were: Henson, Hensley, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Akers, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, and Hensley.

Resolution 1166-15 - Accepting the bid of Central State Bus Sales for a Paratransit Shuttle Bus, was motioned by Mr. Farmer and seconded by Ms. Mossotti. The resolution passed by roll call vote with 13 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. Council members voting in favor were: Henson, Hensley, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Stinnett, Akers, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, and Gibbs.

Both measures received unanimous support from all council members present for each vote, with no opposition or abstentions recorded on either item.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed multiple financial contracts and purchases totaling over $11 million across various municipal departments and infrastructure projects.

The largest expenditure approved was Resolution 1180-15, authorizing a $9,697,001 contract with Judy Construction Co. for the Lower Cane Run Wet Weather Storage Facility. The second-largest contract, Resolution 1108-15, allocated $730,595 to Devere Construction, Inc. for prefabricated truck sheds for the Division of Waste Management.

Several consulting and professional services contracts were approved, including: • Resolution 1105-15: $200,000 to Mission Critical Partners for Phase 2 consulting services for the Public Safety Operations Center Project • Resolution 1073-15: $66,000 to Strand Associates, Inc. for process and control improvements at wastewater treatment plants • Resolution 1077-15: $48,500 to CMW Architects & Engineers, Inc. for the Old Frankfort Pike Scenic Byway Viewing Area Project • Resolution 1078-15: $48,464.03 to TDA, Inc. for analysis of impediments to fair housing choice • Resolution 1048-15: $64,325.00 to Accela, Inc. for right-of-way management software and support services

Infrastructure and facility improvements included Resolution 1103-15 for $132,472.22 to Smith Contractors, Inc. for Town Branch and West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements, and two contracts with Churchill McGee, LLC for Public Safety Operations Center Phase 1B renovations totaling $15,046.11 (Resolutions 1104-15 and 1107-15).

Smaller purchases included Resolution 1111-15 for $25,578.96 to HACH Co. for chemical kits for spectrophotometer equipment, Resolution 1049-15 for $30,000 to Hanover Architectural Products for pedestal support system replacement, Resolution 1112-15 for $1,400 to Fuelband LLC for Government Center rear wall repairs, and Resolution 1062-15 for $280 for NCCHC accreditation of the Division of Community Corrections.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the meeting during the public comment period.

Ms. Emma Shae Turley, a retired employee, spoke about safety concerns within the Division of Waste Management. She raised issues regarding staffing shortages and violations of agreements that have impacted workplace safety. Ms. Turley specifically highlighted an increase in workplace injuries and discussed the effects these incidents have had on employees in the division.

Mr. Dion Henry addressed the meeting regarding employee negotiations and grievances. He discussed ongoing negotiations with human resources and spoke about his workday experiences and the pride he takes in his job. Mr. Henry expressed gratitude to Ms. Sally Hamilton for her work and raised concerns about employee retention, noting that the division has been losing employees. He also mentioned the filing of grievances as part of addressing workplace issues.

Both speakers focused on employment-related concerns within what appears to be the waste management operations, with particular emphasis on safety conditions, staffing levels, and employee relations.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for these public comments.*

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the September 24, 2015 meeting centered on safety concerns within the Division of Waste Management, which drew significant community opposition and public scrutiny.

Safety Concerns in Waste Management

Public commenters raised serious concerns about operational safety, staffing shortages, and potential agreement violations within the Division of Waste Management. The nature of the opposition was community-driven, with residents and stakeholders expressing alarm about current conditions and practices.

The specific safety issues highlighted by the public included inadequate staffing levels that could compromise operational safety protocols. Community members also pointed to what they characterized as violations of existing agreements, though the exact nature of these alleged violations was not detailed in the available information.

This contested item represented a significant point of tension between community concerns and the current management practices within the waste management division. The public comments suggested ongoing issues that had reached a level requiring formal attention during the government meeting.

The outcome of this contested item was not specified in the available meeting data, leaving the resolution of these safety concerns and staffing issues unclear. The community opposition appeared to be seeking acknowledgment of the problems and potentially corrective action from the governing body.

The waste management safety concerns represented the sole major point of contention identified during this meeting, indicating that while there may have been other routine business conducted, this particular issue dominated the contested portion of the proceedings.

Presentation - Spirit of Lexington Award for Yvonne Giles

Mayor Gray presented the Spirit of Lexington Award to Ms. Yvonne Giles during the September 24, 2015 meeting. The Mayor spoke about Ms. Giles' significant contributions to the culture and history of the city of Lexington.

During the presentation, Mayor Gray read a formal proclamation that honored Ms. Giles and officially awarded her the Spirit of Lexington Award. The proclamation recognized her dedication and service to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the community.

This was an informational presentation with no discussion or debate required. The agenda item (1212-15) served as a formal recognition ceremony to acknowledge Ms. Giles' valuable contributions to Lexington's cultural and historical landscape.

The Spirit of Lexington Award represents the city's appreciation for individuals who have made meaningful impacts on the community's cultural identity and historical preservation efforts.

Recognition - Chris King

Agenda Item 1213-15 was a recognition presentation honoring Chris King for his service and contributions to the city.

Mayor Gray led the recognition, speaking about Mr. King's history of work for the city and highlighting his various contributions over his career. The Mayor detailed King's service record and the impact of his work on city operations and the community.

Chris King responded to the recognition by expressing his gratitude for the honor. He spoke about his career experiences and reflected on his time working for the city, sharing insights about his professional journey and the work he had been involved in during his tenure.

The agenda item was informational in nature, serving as a formal acknowledgment of King's service rather than requiring any action or decision from the council. No concerns were raised during the presentation, as it was focused on celebrating King's contributions to the city.

The recognition concluded without any formal vote or additional discussion, fulfilling its purpose as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Chris King's service to the municipality.

Recognition - Lexington Chamber Chorale

The Lexington Urban County Council recognized the Lexington Chamber Chorale during agenda item 1214-15. Gary Anderson spoke about the Chorale, providing information about the organization to the council.

Following Anderson's presentation, Mayor Gray read an official proclamation honoring the Lexington Chamber Chorale. The proclamation designated September 24, 2015, as Lexington Chamber Chorale Day in recognition of the organization's contributions to the community.

This agenda item was informational in nature, serving to formally acknowledge the Chamber Chorale's work and presence in Lexington. No council action was required beyond the ceremonial recognition and proclamation reading.

Ordinance amending authorized strength by abolishing two positions

The council considered Ordinance 1115-15, which proposed to amend the city's authorized staffing structure by abolishing two existing positions and creating two new ones. The ordinance specifically called for eliminating two Classified Civil Service positions of Technical Specialist and replacing them with two positions of Computer Analyst.

This personnel restructuring represents a modernization of the city's workforce to better align job classifications with current technological needs and responsibilities. The change from Technical Specialist to Computer Analyst positions suggests a shift toward more specialized information technology roles within the city's operations.

The ordinance was approved by the council, allowing the city to proceed with the position reclassifications. This type of administrative adjustment helps ensure that job titles and classifications accurately reflect the actual duties and qualifications required for municipal positions.

The restructuring maintains the same total number of positions while updating the job classifications to better serve the city's operational needs. No transcript timestamp is available for the specific discussion of this agenda item.

Ordinance amending certain budgets for municipal expenditures

The council considered Ordinance 1156-15, which amended certain municipal budgets to reflect current expenditure requirements and appropriated and re-appropriated funds under Schedule No. 7.

The ordinance was presented as a routine budget adjustment measure designed to align municipal spending allocations with actual operational needs. The legislation involved both appropriating new funds and re-appropriating existing funds across various municipal departments and programs.

No specific speakers were identified during the discussion of this agenda item, and no transcript timestamps were available for this portion of the meeting. The ordinance appeared to be considered as part of standard municipal budget management procedures.

The council approved the ordinance without recorded debate or opposition. This type of budget amendment ordinance is typically used by municipalities to make mid-year adjustments to spending plans based on changing operational requirements, revenue collections, or program needs that have emerged since the original budget was adopted.

The approval allows the municipality to proceed with the revised budget allocations outlined in Schedule No. 7, ensuring that departments have appropriate funding levels to meet their operational requirements for the remainder of the fiscal period.

Ordinance amending budgets for Environmental Services

The council considered Ordinance 1157-15, which amended budgets within the Division of Environmental Services to provide funding for mulch needed for the Scully Property Tree Planning Project.

The ordinance was designed to adjust current budget allocations to reflect the specific requirements of this tree planning initiative. The amendment would reallocate existing funds to cover the cost of mulch materials necessary for the environmental project at the Scully Property.

No specific speakers were identified in the record for this agenda item, and no transcript timestamps were available to reference particular discussion points or debates that may have occurred during consideration of the ordinance.

The council approved the budget amendment, allowing the Division of Environmental Services to proceed with obtaining the necessary mulch materials for the Scully Property Tree Planning Project. The approval enables the division to move forward with this environmental initiative using the newly allocated funding.

Ordinance changing zone from Agricultural Urban to Planned Neighborhood Resident

The council considered Ordinance 1168-15, which would change the zoning designation for property located at 3455 Saybrook Road from Agricultural Urban to Planned Neighborhood Residential.

The ordinance was tabled during the meeting, with no final action taken on the zoning change request. No transcript timestamps or detailed discussion points were available for this agenda item, and no key speakers were identified in the meeting record.

The proposed rezoning would have allowed for residential development under the Planned Neighborhood Residential classification, which typically permits higher density housing than the current Agricultural Urban designation. The specific property at 3455 Saybrook Road was the sole focus of this zoning amendment.

Outcome: Tabled - no final action taken

Ordinance changing zone from Wholesale & Warehouse Business to Neighborhood Business

Agenda item 1169-15 addressed a proposed zoning change for property located at 1447 Antique Dr. The ordinance would rezone the property from Wholesale & Warehouse Business to Neighborhood Business.

No specific discussion details, key speakers, or debate points were recorded in the available meeting materials for this agenda item. The item was ultimately tabled, meaning no final action was taken and the matter was postponed for consideration at a future meeting.

The proposed zoning change would have altered the permitted uses for the property at 1447 Antique Dr., transitioning it from industrial/wholesale uses to commercial uses more compatible with neighborhood retail and service businesses. However, without the item moving forward, the current Wholesale & Warehouse Business zoning remains in effect for the property.

Ordinance changing zone from Two-Family Residential to Planned Neighborhood Resi

The council considered Ordinance 1172-15, which would change the zoning designation for property located at 334 Richmond Ave. from Two-Family Residential to Planned Neighborhood Residential.

This ordinance received its first reading during the September 24, 2015 meeting. The proposed zoning change would allow for different development possibilities under the Planned Neighborhood Residential classification compared to the current Two-Family Residential zoning.

No specific speakers were identified in the available records for this agenda item, and no transcript timestamp was provided for the discussion. The ordinance advanced through its first reading as part of the standard legislative process, which typically requires multiple readings before final adoption.

The outcome of this agenda item was completion of the first reading, meaning the ordinance will need to return for additional consideration at future council meetings before it can be enacted.