Planning and Public Safety Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Planning & Public Safety Committee met on October 13, 2015, at 1:00 p.m., with Mossotti presiding. The committee addressed four agenda items during the session, taking 14 motions and votes. One member of the public provided comment during the meeting.

The committee approved two items: the Insurance for Fireworks Displays proposal and the Code Compliance Assistance initiative. One agenda item regarding Drones (Unmanned Aircraft Systems-UAS) was tabled for future consideration. Items referred to the committee were deferred.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on October 13, 2015:

• Mossotti
• Scutchfield
• Kay
• Stinnett
• Akers
• Gibbs
• Lamb
• Farmer
• Bledsoe
• Henson

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

All motions brought to a vote during this meeting passed unanimously.

Approval of August 13, 2015 Planning & Public Safety Committee Summary and Motions 3:00 Motion by Henson, seconded by Scutchfield. Passed unanimously.

Extension of Mr. Scanlon's Speaking Time 3:34 Motion by Farmer, seconded by Henson, to extend Mr. Scanlon's time by three minutes. Passed unanimously.

Insurance Pricing Policy for Firework Displays 4:05 Motion by Bledsoe, seconded by Henson, to approve the Administration's return to Committee with a recommended policy for the best pricing of insurance for firework displays. Passed unanimously.

Code Compliance Assistance Pilot Project 56:49 Motion by Akers to move forward with the pilot project for code compliance assistance as proposed by Mr. Hollinger and the Leadership Lexington Group. Passed unanimously.

Agenda Removals [timestamps: 0:57:53 through 1:05:49] The following items were removed from the agenda by unanimous vote: - Greenway item (motion by Akers, seconded by Farmer) 57:53 - Merged Division of emergency management with fire department (motion by Henson, seconded by Farmer) 59:59 - Scrap metal dealers item (motion by Farmer, seconded by Farmer) 1:01:02 - Sky Lanthorns item (motion by Farmer, seconded by Farmer) 1:02:41 - Armstrong Mill small area plan (motion by Brown, seconded by Farmer) 1:04:18 - Cardinal Valley feasibility study (motion by Henson, seconded by Farmer) 1:04:49 - Fireworks display item (motion by Bledsoe, seconded by Farmer) 1:05:19 - Drones item (motion by Maloney, seconded by Farmer) 1:05:49

Advertising Supplements Item 1:03:13 Motion by Henson, seconded by Farmer, to place the advertising supplements item back into committee with a review date of January 2016. Passed unanimously.

Adjournment 1:14:29 Motion by Henson, seconded by Farmer, to adjourn. Passed unanimously.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included consideration of funding for a proposed pilot program focused on code compliance assistance. An appropriation of $10,000 was discussed to support this initiative.

Public Comment

1:10:09

Randy Glover, a former taxi driver, addressed the council regarding systemic issues within the taxi cab industry. Mr. Glover raised concerns about lost bond money and the lack of protections currently available to drivers. He emphasized the need to expedite the taxi ordinance to ensure compliance with state law and to establish safeguards for taxi drivers operating in the jurisdiction.

Appointments

Steve Kay was appointed to the Planning & Public Safety Committee.

Contested Items

Code Enforcement and Funding

Councilmembers debated the funding source for a code compliance pilot program. The disagreement centered on whether to fund the program from the nuisance abatement fund. Concerns were raised that allocating money from this fund would reduce resources available for nuisance abatement efforts, which councilmembers identified as critical for addressing blight in neighborhoods. The vote on this matter was split among the council.

Drones Regulation

Councilmembers engaged in a heated discussion regarding the regulation of drones. The primary concern was the potential for drones to be misused by individuals with criminal records, particularly sex offenders. Councilmembers also noted a significant regulatory challenge: local authorities lack control over airspace, which is regulated at the federal level. This limitation constrained the council's ability to implement local drone regulations despite their concerns about public safety and misuse.

Drones (Unmanned Aircraft Systems-UAS)

3:34

Councilmember Maloney raised concerns about the safety and regulation of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) in the community. Maloney specifically highlighted worries about access to drones by individuals with criminal records and the operation of drones in proximity to schools and hospitals.

The Police Chief and Hensley addressed these concerns by explaining the current regulatory framework. They noted that existing Kentucky state laws and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations already address most operational issues related to drone use. According to their assessment, these existing regulations provide sufficient coverage for the primary safety and operational concerns.

When asked about the possibility of implementing new local legislation to further regulate drones, the Police Chief and Hensley indicated that no new local legislation is currently feasible. This determination was based on the existing regulatory landscape already in place at the state and federal levels.

The council did not reach a final resolution on the matter during this discussion. Instead, the item was tabled, allowing for further research to be conducted before any future action is considered.

Insurance for Fireworks Displays

Councilmember Bledsoe presented a revised insurance policy for fireworks displays during this agenda item. 24:10

Proposal Details

The presentation outlined recommended insurance coverage amounts differentiated by event type:

• $5 million coverage for city-sponsored events and public roadways
• $2 million coverage for private events on private property

Key Participants

The discussion involved Councilmember Bledsoe, Chief Farmer, and Patrick Johnson.

Outcome

The proposal was approved unanimously by the council.

Code Compliance Assistance

26:33

Jonathan Hollinger presented a proposed pilot program designed to assist low-income homeowners with exterior housing code violations. The program would provide up to $1,000 in reimbursement to eligible homeowners for addressing code compliance issues on their properties.

Program Details

The pilot program would be funded through the nuisance abatement fund and would be modeled after the existing sidewalk assistance program, which has an established framework for providing similar financial support to homeowners.

Participants

The agenda item was discussed by Jonathan Hollinger, along with council members Akers, Gibbs, Bledsoe, Kay, and Henson.

Outcome

The motion to move forward with the Code Compliance Assistance pilot program passed unanimously, indicating full support from the council members present.

Items Referred

During this agenda item, several matters were discussed and removed from the agenda or deferred for further consideration. 57:53

Items Discussed:

The following items were addressed:

• Greenway
• Merged emergency management
• Scrap metal dealers
• Sky Lanthorns
• Advertising supplements
• Armstrong Mill
• Cardinal Valley
• Drones

Speakers:

The discussion involved Farmer, Henson, Brown, Akers, Bledsoe, Maloney, and Hensley.

Outcome:

The items were deferred, with the drones item specifically being tabled.