Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on February 26, 2008, at 3:00 PM with Mayor Newberry presiding. The meeting addressed four agenda items, including committee updates and a proclamation, with the Council taking three formal votes during the session. Two members of the public provided comments to the Council during the meeting.

The Council received informational updates from both the Corridors Committee and Planning Committee, providing members with current information on ongoing initiatives and planning matters. The Council approved a proclamation recognizing American Red Cross Month, demonstrating support for the organization's humanitarian efforts in the community. Additionally, the Council received an informational presentation on the Management Partners Audit Report, which provided analysis and recommendations regarding municipal operations and efficiency.

The meeting combined both routine administrative matters and substantive policy discussions, with the Council balancing informational briefings with formal action on the Red Cross proclamation. The presence of public commenters reflected ongoing community engagement with local government proceedings.

Attendance

The Lincoln City Council meeting on February 26, 2008 had strong attendance with eleven members present and one absent.

Present: • Mayor Newberry • CM Lane • CM Blevins • CM Stevens • CM DeCamp • CM Gorton • CM Myers • CM McChord • CM Beard • CM James • CM Blues

Absent: • CM Crosbie

No council members arrived late to the meeting. With eleven of twelve council members in attendance, the meeting had sufficient participation for conducting official city business.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted three votes during the February 26, 2008 meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

Approval of Meeting Summary 2:30 CM Lane motioned to approve the February 19th summary, with CM Blevins providing the second. The motion passed unanimously.

New Business Items Approval 5:00 CM Stevens made a motion to approve new business items A through G, seconded by CM DeCamp. The Council voted unanimously to approve all items.

Planning Committee Referral 2:00:00 CM DeCamp motioned to place the operational recommendations for Infill & Redevelopment into the Planning Committee for further review. CM Stevens seconded the motion, which passed with unanimous Council support.

All three votes were conducted as unanimous consent votes rather than formal roll call votes, with no recorded individual vote tallies or dissenting positions from any Council members present.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several financial authorizations and contract amendments during the February 26, 2008 meeting.

Grant Applications and Funding: • Resolution 114-08 authorized the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire and Emergency Services to submit an application to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security for $23,893 from the Homeland Security Grant Program

• Resolution 115-08 approved an amendment to the agreement with Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Inc. regarding the use of HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds

Professional Services Contracts: • Resolution 117-08 authorized a $100,000 professional services agreement with EHI Consultants for the Lexington East End Neighborhood Small Area Plan

Contract Change Orders: The Council approved multiple change orders to existing contracts:

• Resolution 119-08 authorized Change Order No. 1 with Bluegrass Contracting Corporation for the Meadow/Northland/Arlington Public Improvements Design Phase 2C project, reducing the contract amount by $36,038.83

• Resolution 121-08 approved Change Order No. 2 with CDP Engineers, Inc. for the South Elkhorn Pump Station and Force Main Improvement Project, adding $33,500 to the contract

• Resolution 422-08 authorized Change Order No. 1 with HDR / Quest Engineers, Inc. for the Star Shoot Parkway Extension Project, adding $1,125 to the contract

Other Amendments: • Resolution 116-09 authorized an amendment to Resolution No. 39-2008 regarding the contract with Zambelli Fireworks Manufacturing, Inc.

The financial actions represented a mix of infrastructure improvements, emergency preparedness funding, and community development initiatives, with the largest single authorization being the $100,000 planning contract with EHI Consultants.

Public Comment

The Council meeting on February 26, 2008 included two designated periods for public comment, but no members of the public participated in either session.

Public Comment on Agenda Items 0:30 • No public comments were made regarding any items on the meeting agenda

Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items 2:30:00 • No public comments were made on topics not included on the meeting agenda

Both public comment periods concluded without any community input or concerns being raised.

Appointments

The Council made one appointment during the February 26, 2008 meeting.

• Jim Buckles was appointed to the Feasibility Study on Constructed Wetlands

This appointment represents the Council's commitment to exploring constructed wetlands as a potential solution for the community's water management needs. The feasibility study will likely examine the technical, environmental, and financial aspects of implementing constructed wetland systems within the city's infrastructure.

Corridors Committee Update

6:00

Chair CM Stevens provided an informational update on the Corridors Committee's recent activities during the February 26, 2008 Council meeting.

Stevens reported on the status of three transportation grants currently being pursued by the committee. While the specific details of these grants were not elaborated upon in the available materials, the update served to keep the Council informed of ongoing transportation planning efforts.

In addition to the grant update, CM Stevens announced the scheduling of the next Corridors Committee meeting, ensuring continued coordination on transportation corridor planning initiatives.

The presentation was informational in nature, with no formal action required from the Council. The update reflects the committee's ongoing work to secure funding and advance transportation infrastructure projects within the city's corridor planning framework.

Planning Committee Update

10:00 CM Gorton provided an update on the Planning Committee's recent activities during the February 26, 2008 Council meeting.

The update included discussion of a motion regarding a feasibility study on constructed wetlands. CM Gorton presented information about the committee's consideration of this environmental infrastructure option, though specific details about the scope, timeline, or budget for the proposed study were not elaborated upon in the available materials.

This agenda item served as an informational presentation to keep the full Council informed of the Planning Committee's ongoing work and deliberations. No formal action was taken by the Council during this update, as it was presented for informational purposes only.

The Planning Committee Update represents part of the Council's regular practice of having committee chairs report back to the full body on their respective committees' activities and recommendations.

American Red Cross Month Proclamation

15:00

Mayor Newberry presented a proclamation declaring March 2008 as American Red Cross Month in the city. The proclamation recognized the American Red Cross's vital role in providing emergency assistance, disaster relief, and community services to residents.

During the presentation, Mayor Newberry highlighted the organization's contributions to the community and encouraged citizens to support the American Red Cross through volunteering and donations. The proclamation acknowledged the Red Cross's mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies.

The proclamation was approved without discussion or opposition from the Council.

Management Partners Audit Report

20:00 Jerry Newfarmer and Julia Novak presented the Management Partners Audit Report to the Council during this meeting. The comprehensive audit contained 424 recommendations aimed at improving various aspects of government operations.

The presentation was informational in nature, with Newfarmer and Novak delivering their findings to Council members. The audit represents a significant review of municipal operations, with the substantial number of recommendations indicating a thorough examination of city processes and procedures.

This agenda item served as a presentation of the audit results rather than a discussion requiring Council action or decision-making. The extensive scope of the audit, as evidenced by the 424 recommendations, suggests the review covered multiple departments and operational areas within the city government.

The Council received the audit report as an informational item, allowing members to review the recommendations for potential future consideration and implementation.