Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on October 22, 2015, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gray presiding. The meeting addressed five agenda items, beginning with a recognition ceremony for Tom Hammond and proceeding through four legislative matters. The council took four votes during the session, approving all four ordinances that came before them, including budget amendments, code revisions, and a street closure. No public comments were heard during this meeting.

Attendance

The following members were present at the October 22, 2015 meeting:

• Lamb
• Moloney
• Mossotti
• Stinnett
• Akers
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Farmer
• Gibbs
• Hensley
• Henson
• Kay

Absent: Scutchfield, Evans

No members arrived late to the meeting.

A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted four roll call votes during the October 22, 2015 meeting, with all measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 1263-15 - Budget Amendment Ms. Henson motioned to approve an ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriating funds (Schedule No. 11). Mr. Farmer seconded the motion. The measure passed 12-0, with votes in favor from Moloney, Mossotti, Stinnett, Akers, F. Brown, J. Brown, Farmer, Gibbs, Hensley, Henson, and Kay.

Ordinance 1267-15 - Oath of Office Requirements Ms. Henson motioned to approve an ordinance amending Section 2-19 (1) of the Code of Ordinances, removing the requirement that the Clerk of the Urban County Council administer the oath of office to board, agency, and commission appointees and extending the time required to complete and submit the oath of office by affidavit. Mr. Farmer seconded the motion. The ordinance passed 12-0, with the same council members voting in favor.

Ordinance 1222-15 - Property Definitions Amendment Ms. Akers motioned to approve an ordinance amending Sections 7-39 and 12-81 of the Code of Ordinances, which modifies the definition of abandoned urban property and blighted or deteriorated property. Ms. Henson seconded the motion. The measure passed 12-0, with votes in favor from Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Stinnett, Akers, F. Brown, J. Brown, Farmer, Gibbs, Hensley, Henson, and Kay.

Ordinance 1288-15 - Barkley Street Closing Mr. J. Brown motioned to approve an ordinance closing Barkley Street, confirming that the abutting property owner was properly notified and consented to the closure, and authorizing the Mayor to execute necessary documents to transfer the former right-of-way. Ms. Akers seconded the motion. The ordinance passed 12-0, with the same twelve council members voting in favor.

All four ordinances received unanimous support from the council members present.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several significant financial items totaling $392,206 across various contracts, amendments, and grant applications.

The largest expenditure was Resolution 1230-15, authorizing $198,500 for consulting services related to a new Government Center with Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. This contract represents the most substantial financial commitment discussed during the session.

Two separate agreements were approved with the Bluegrass Area Development District (BGADD). Resolution 0976-15 established a Purchase of Service Agreement for $40,096 to cover FY 2016 local dues payments supporting Workforce Development, Aging Services, and Regional Planning initiatives. Additionally, Resolution 1199-15 authorized $48,610 for operation of the Homecare Program serving home-bound seniors.

The council approved Resolution 1185-15, an amendment providing $40,000 in additional services under the Mobility Office Marketing Campaign for FY 2016 with Group CJ, LLC. This amendment expands the scope of existing marketing efforts.

A grant-related item, Resolution 1188-15, authorized the purchase of a Portable Airborne Chemical Detection and ID System for $65,000 through funding from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. This equipment acquisition enhances the jurisdiction's emergency response capabilities.

The financial actions span multiple operational areas including facilities planning, workforce development, senior services, transportation marketing, and public safety equipment. The mix of contracts, amendments, and grant-funded purchases reflects diverse municipal priorities and funding sources for the fiscal year.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions.

New Appointments: • James Branham was appointed to the Address Enforcement Administrative Hearing Board • Robert Littrell was appointed to the Address Enforcement Administrative Hearing Board • Theresa Thomas was appointed to the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities • Jennifer Scutchfield was appointed to the Internal Audit Board • Freddy Peralta was appointed to the Mayor's International Affairs Advisory Commission

Reappointments: • Anna Greene was reappointed to the Black and Williams Neighborhood Community Center Board • Greg Hosfield was reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission • Nathan Billings was reappointed to the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors

The appointments covered a range of city functions, from code enforcement and historic preservation to disability advocacy and international affairs. Two individuals were appointed to the Address Enforcement Administrative Hearing Board, which handles appeals related to property code violations. The Internal Audit Board received a new member, while the Historic Preservation Commission retained an existing member through reappointment.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

Consulting Services for New Government Center

The primary point of contention involved consulting services related to a new Government Center project. The disagreement centered on the scope of property to be reviewed as part of the consulting work.

A motion was made to amend the resolution that would have limited the scope of the property review to only City-owned property. This amendment represented a more restrictive approach to the consulting services, potentially narrowing the consultant's evaluation to exclude privately-owned or other non-municipal properties that might otherwise be considered for the Government Center project.

The motion to amend failed by a majority vote, indicating that a majority of council members preferred to maintain a broader scope for the property review. This suggests the council wanted to give the consultants more flexibility in evaluating potential sites or properties for the new Government Center, rather than restricting their analysis to only those properties currently owned by the City.

The split vote demonstrates there was significant disagreement among council members about how expansive the consulting services should be and whether the City should limit its options to only currently-owned properties or consider a wider range of possibilities for the Government Center location.

*Note: Specific vote counts, individual council member positions, and transcript timestamps were not available in the provided meeting data.*

Recognition - Tom Hammond

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government recognized Tom Hammond for his distinguished broadcasting career and contributions to horse racing and breeding. Mr. Hammond was presented with the Henry Clay Ambassador Award during the meeting.

Mayor Gray and Ms. Mossotti served as key speakers for the recognition ceremony, highlighting Hammond's career achievements with NBC and his significant impact on horse racing and breeding industries. The recognition acknowledged Hammond's professional accomplishments in sports broadcasting and his connection to Lexington's equine heritage.

Tom Hammond himself was present to receive the honor and participated in the recognition proceedings. The Henry Clay Ambassador Award represents the city's appreciation for individuals who have made notable contributions to the community or brought positive recognition to Lexington.

This agenda item was informational in nature, serving as a ceremonial recognition rather than requiring any formal action or vote by the council. The presentation celebrated Hammond's career milestones and his role in promoting horse racing through his broadcasting work with NBC.

The recognition reflects Lexington's tradition of honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to fields closely associated with the city's identity, particularly those related to the horse industry and sports broadcasting that showcases the region's equine culture to national audiences.

An Ordinance amending certain of the Budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government

The council considered Ordinance 1263-15, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures and to appropriate and re-appropriate funds.

Ms. Henson and Mr. Farmer served as key speakers during the discussion of this budget amendment ordinance. The ordinance addresses necessary adjustments to the government's budget allocations to ensure proper funding alignment with current operational needs.

The ordinance was approved by the council, allowing the budget amendments to take effect. This type of budget adjustment ordinance is typically used to reallocate existing funds between different departments or programs, or to appropriate additional funds that have become available during the fiscal year.

The approval enables the urban county government to proceed with the revised budget allocations as outlined in the ordinance, ensuring that municipal services and operations can continue with appropriate funding levels.

An Ordinance amending Section 2-19 (1) of the Code of Ordinances

The Urban County Council considered Ordinance 1267-15, which proposed amendments to Section 2-19 (1) of the Code of Ordinances regarding oath of office procedures for board, agency, and commission appointees.

The ordinance makes two key changes to existing requirements. First, it removes the mandate that the Clerk of the Urban County Council personally administer the oath of office to individuals appointed to various boards, agencies, and commissions. Second, it extends the timeframe for appointees to complete and submit their oath of office by affidavit.

Ms. Henson and Mr. Farmer served as key speakers during the discussion of this agenda item. The ordinance appears designed to streamline administrative processes by providing more flexibility in how oaths are administered and allowing appointees additional time to fulfill this requirement.

The council approved the ordinance, indicating consensus that these procedural changes would improve efficiency in the appointment process while maintaining the integrity of the oath requirement for public service positions.

An Ordinance amending Sections 7-39 and 12-81 of the Code of Ordinances

The council considered Ordinance 1222-15, which proposes amendments to Sections 7-39 and 12-81 of the Code of Ordinances. The ordinance focuses on revising the definitions of abandoned urban property and blighted or deteriorated property within the municipal code.

Ms. Henson and Mr. Paulsen served as the key speakers during the discussion of this agenda item. The proposed changes aim to clarify and update the existing definitions to better address property conditions and abandonment issues within the city.

The ordinance specifically targets two sections of the code: • Section 7-39, which deals with abandoned urban property definitions • Section 12-81, which addresses blighted or deteriorated property classifications

These amendments appear designed to provide clearer guidance for city officials and property owners regarding what constitutes abandoned or deteriorated properties, potentially improving the city's ability to address problematic properties and enforce related regulations.

The council ultimately approved the ordinance, indicating consensus on the need for these definitional updates to the municipal code. The approval suggests the amendments will help streamline property enforcement procedures and provide better clarity for both city staff and residents regarding property standards and abandonment criteria.

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

An Ordinance closing Barkley St.

The council considered Ordinance 1288-15, which would close Barkley Street and transfer the right-of-way to the abutting property owner. The ordinance determines that the property owner adjacent to the street has been properly identified and has consented to the street closing.

Key speakers on this item included Mr. J. Brown and Ms. Akers, who presented details about the street closure process and requirements.

The ordinance authorizes the Mayor to execute all necessary documents to complete the transfer of the right-of-way from the city to the private property owner. This type of street closure typically occurs when a public right-of-way is no longer needed for public use and the adjacent property owner seeks to acquire the land.

The council approved the ordinance, allowing the street closure to proceed and enabling the Mayor to finalize the property transfer documentation.

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