Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on January 12, 2016, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Vice Mayor Kay presiding. The council addressed 10 agenda items during the session, covering standard municipal business including rezoning requests, budget amendments, and various reports from council members and the mayor.

The meeting proceeded through routine governmental matters, with the council taking 15 votes on various motions throughout the session. Key agenda items included requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, new business items, and continuing business presentations. The council also heard reports from both council members and the mayor as part of the regular meeting structure.

No public comments were recorded during either of the designated public comment periods - one for issues on the agenda and another for issues not on the agenda. The meeting followed a standard format with opportunities for public input, though none were utilized during this session. All substantive agenda items that required council action were approved, indicating a productive session where the council was able to move forward on pending municipal business and administrative matters.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on January 12, 2016:

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

All 15 members were in attendance with no absences or late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included 15 motions, with 13 passing unanimously and 2 requiring roll call votes.

Unanimous Votes The following motions all passed by unanimous consent: • Approve docket (motion by Farmer, second by Shevawn Akers) • Approve December 1, 2015 summary (motion by Akers, second by Farmer) • Approve budget amendments (motion by Farmer, second by Scutchfield) • Add budget amendment for fire training tower (motion by Mossotti, second by Farmer) • Place ordinance on docket for First Reading (motion by Evans, second by Mossotti) • Approve new business (motion by Farmer, second by Scutchfield) • Amend and remove items B, C, and D from new business (motion by Lamb, second by Farmer) • Approve neighborhood development funds (motion by Stinnett, second by Akers) • Endorse design team to proceed with detailed design (motion by Farmer, second by J. Brown) • Place resolution on docket for first reading (motion by Akers, second by Henson) • Refer legislative review to General Government & Social Services committee (motion by Kay, second by Akers) • Approve Mayor's report (motion by Akers, second by Scutchfield) • Adjourn meeting (motion by Stinnett, second by Mossotti)

Roll Call Votes Two helicopter landing-related motions required roll call votes:

Remove helicopter landings from Planning & Public Safety committee (motion by Hensley, second by Farmer) passed 9-6. Voting yes: Farmer, Stinnett, Scutchfield, F. Brown, Evans, Bledsoe, Moloney, J. Brown, Hensley. Voting no: Kay, Akers, Mossotti, Henson, Lamb, Gibbs.

Place ordinance on docket for helicopter landings (motion by Hensley, second by Farmer) passed 10-5. Voting yes: Farmer, Stinnett, Scutchfield, Henson, F. Brown, Lamb, Bledsoe, Moloney, J. Brown, Hensley. Voting no: Kay, Akers, Mossotti, Evans, Gibbs.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed ten financial items totaling over $1 million in expenditures, contracts, and grant acceptances.

Contracts and Purchases: - Resolution L1522-15 authorized a $23,469.77 contract with Unified Technologies for a phone system at the new Lexington Senior Center - Resolution L1530-15 approved a sixty-month agreement with Time Warner Cable Business Class for Managed WiFi services at $1,630.00 per month - Resolution L1533-15 authorized a $93,500 Facility Usage Contract with the Fayette County Board of Education for the 2015-2016 school year - Resolution L1574-15 approved a $3,599.00 contract with iHeartMEDIA for advertisements promoting the New Senior Center - Resolution L1605-15 authorized a $499,240 HOME Agreement with KDVA HOMES 2, LLLP for construction of affordable rental housing units - Resolution L1571-15 approved the purchase of real estate at 270 West Loudon Avenue for $350,000.00

Contract Modifications: - Resolution L1529-15 authorized an amendment to the agreement with the Human Rights Commission with no additional cost - Resolution L1554-15 approved Contract Modification No. 1 with J.M. Crawford and Associates, Inc. for $19,500 for design work on the Brighton Rail Trail Bridge

Grant Acceptances: - Resolution L1561-15 authorized acceptance of a $480 Fire Fighting Support Grant from Kentucky American Water - Resolution L1577-15 approved acceptance of a $106,212.27 award for the FY 2016 Emergency Management Assistance Project from the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, Division of Emergency Management

The financial actions encompassed infrastructure improvements, public safety enhancements, housing development, and facility operations across multiple city departments and partnerships.

Contested Items

The council addressed one contested matter during the January 12, 2016 meeting regarding helicopter landings in the city.

Helicopter Landing Regulations

The council engaged in a split vote concerning the management and frequency of helicopter landings within city limits. The disagreement centered on two related actions: removing the helicopter landing issue from the Planning & Public Safety committee's purview and simultaneously placing a new ordinance on the council docket that would increase the permitted frequency of helicopter landings.

The nature of the split indicates that council members were divided on both the procedural aspect of which committee should handle helicopter landing matters and the substantive policy question of whether to allow more frequent helicopter operations. The council ultimately voted to proceed with both measures - extracting the issue from the Planning & Public Safety committee and advancing an ordinance to increase helicopter landing frequency.

The specific vote tallies, individual council member positions, and the reasoning behind the disagreement were not detailed in the available meeting data. However, the split vote designation suggests this was not a unanimous decision and likely involved significant debate among council members regarding aviation policy, public safety considerations, and committee jurisdiction within the city's governance structure.

The outcome represents a shift in both the administrative handling of helicopter landing issues and the city's policy direction toward allowing increased helicopter activity, despite the apparent division among council members on these matters.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

During the January 12, 2016 meeting, a public comment period was held to allow community members to address issues listed on the meeting agenda. This agenda item provided an opportunity for public participation and input on matters scheduled for discussion or action by the governing body.

The public comment period was opened to invite remarks from attendees regarding any items appearing on the day's agenda. This standard procedural item allows citizens to express their views, concerns, or support for specific agenda matters before official deliberation begins.

No specific speakers, comments, or particular issues raised during this public comment period were documented in the available meeting materials. The agenda item served its informational purpose of providing a forum for public input on agenda-related matters.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, serving as a mechanism for public engagement rather than requiring any formal action or decision by the governing body. Public comment periods like this are typically used to gather community input that may inform subsequent discussion and decision-making on agenda items.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

The council considered approval of the docket for requested rezonings during this meeting. The discussion involved key speakers Farmer and Shevawn Akers, who presented information regarding the rezoning requests under consideration.

The agenda item focused on establishing the official docket of rezoning applications that the council would review and process. This procedural step is necessary to formally recognize and schedule the various rezoning requests submitted to the city for consideration.

The council ultimately approved the docket for requested rezonings, allowing the formal review process to proceed for the applications included in the docket. This approval enables staff and the planning commission to begin their review and analysis of the individual rezoning requests.

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

Approval of Summary

The council considered approval of the summary from their December 1, 2015 meeting. Council members Akers and Farmer participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The council voted to approve the summary of the December 1, 2015 meeting without recorded objections or amendments.

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

Budget Amendments

The council considered and approved various budget amendments during the meeting. The discussion involved several council members, with Farmer, Scutchfield, and Mossotti serving as key speakers on the amendments.

Among the budget amendments presented was one specifically related to a fire training tower. The council reviewed the various amendments, which appeared to cover multiple budget items and adjustments.

The amendments were ultimately approved by the council, though the specific details of the discussion, individual amendment amounts, and any concerns raised during deliberation were not detailed in the available materials.

The approval of these budget amendments represents routine fiscal management by the council to adjust spending allocations as needed for various municipal operations and projects.

New Business

The council addressed new business items during this portion of the meeting, with discussion led by several council members.

Key participants in the new business discussion included: • Farmer • Scutchfield • Lamb

The council reviewed and deliberated on the new business items presented, with some modifications made during the discussion process. The items underwent amendments before final consideration.

Following discussion and the incorporation of amendments, the council approved the new business items.

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

Continuing Business/Presentations

The council addressed continuing business items during this portion of the meeting, with several council members participating in the discussion and decision-making process.

Key speakers included Stinnett, Akers, Farmer, and J. Brown, who contributed to the deliberations on the matters before the council.

The primary focus of this agenda item involved two significant actions:

• Neighborhood Development Funds: The council reviewed and approved funding allocations for neighborhood development initiatives. The specific amounts and targeted neighborhoods were discussed among the participating council members.

• Design Team Endorsement: The council also considered and endorsed a design team for an unspecified project. The selection process and qualifications of the chosen team were part of the council's evaluation.

Both items received approval from the council following the presentations and discussions led by the key speakers. The collaborative nature of the decision-making process involved input from multiple council members, suggesting these were substantive matters requiring careful consideration.

The outcome of this agenda item was positive, with the council moving forward on both the neighborhood development funding and the design team endorsement. These approvals indicate the council's commitment to advancing local development projects and ensuring proper professional oversight through the endorsed design team.

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

Council Reports

During the Council Reports portion of the meeting, council members addressed procedural matters related to legislative items and committee referrals.

The council took action to place resolutions on the docket for first reading, following standard legislative procedures. This step represents the initial formal consideration of proposed resolutions before they advance through the full legislative process.

Key speakers during this segment included Council members Akers, Henson, and Kay, who participated in the discussion of these procedural matters.

Additionally, the council referred legislative review responsibilities to a committee, ensuring proper oversight and detailed examination of pending legislation before it returns to the full council for further consideration.

The council approved the actions discussed during this portion of the meeting, allowing the legislative items to proceed through the established review process.

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

Mayor's Report

The council considered and approved the Mayor's Report during the January 12, 2016 meeting. The discussion involved key speakers Akers and Scutchfield, though specific details of the report's contents and the nature of their contributions were not detailed in the available meeting records.

The agenda item proceeded as a standard mayoral report to the council, which typically includes updates on city operations, initiatives, and administrative matters. Following the presentation and any discussion, the council voted to approve the Mayor's Report.

The approval of the report indicates the council's acceptance of the information and updates provided by the mayor's office. No specific concerns or objections were noted in the available documentation regarding this agenda item.

The outcome was a formal approval of the Mayor's Report by the council members present at the meeting.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

The meeting included a designated period for public comments on issues not listed on the agenda. This agenda item provided an opportunity for community members to address the governing body on matters of public concern outside of the scheduled discussion topics.

No specific transcript timestamp or detailed information about individual speakers or comments was provided in the available meeting materials. The item was categorized as informational, indicating that no formal action was taken by the governing body in response to any public comments received during this portion of the meeting.

This type of public comment period is a standard component of government meetings, allowing for citizen participation and ensuring that community members have access to address their elected officials on matters of local concern that may not be formally scheduled for discussion.

Adjournment

The meeting was brought to a close through the standard adjournment procedure. Key speakers during this final agenda item included Stinnett and Mossotti.

The motion to adjourn was approved, formally ending the January 12, 2016 meeting.