Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on August 30, 2016, at 5:02 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding over the session. The meeting focused on second readings of legislative items, with the council addressing two main agenda items: ordinances and resolutions, both of which were approved. During the course of the meeting, the council conducted four votes on various matters before them. One member of the public provided comments during the designated public comment period. The meeting successfully concluded with the approval of both agenda items that were brought forward for second reading consideration.

Attendance

The following members were present at the August 30, 2016 meeting:

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

Absent: • Akers

Late: • None

A total of 14 members were present and 1 member was absent. No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council voted on four tax levy ordinances during the meeting, with all items passing by roll call vote.

Ordinance 0952-16 5:09 - An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes for the fiscal year July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 was motioned by Henson and seconded by Kay. The ordinance passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Hensley, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, and J. Brown.

Ordinance 0953-16 5:10 - An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for purposes of support of the Agricultural Extension Office for the fiscal year July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 was motioned by Henson and seconded by Kay. This ordinance also passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays, with the same council members voting in favor.

Ordinance 0954-16 5:12 - An Ordinance adopting the request of the Lexington Fayette County Health Dept. under KRS 212.755 and levying a special ad valorem public health tax for the fiscal year July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 was motioned by Henson and seconded by Kay. The ordinance passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays, with all council members voting in favor.

Ordinance 0955-16 5:13 - An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for purposes of support of the Soil and Water Conservation District for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 was motioned by Henson and seconded by Kay. This ordinance passed with 11 ayes and 3 nays. Voting in favor were Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Hensley, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Stinnett, and J. Brown. Voting against were Scutchfield, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several contract approvals totaling $89,317.18 across multiple municipal projects and services.

The largest expenditure was Resolution 0873-16, authorizing a $37,621 contract with T.E.M. Group, Inc. for emergency generator electrical connections. This represents the most significant single financial commitment discussed during the session.

Resolution 0877-16 approved a $24,536.18 contract with Johnstone Supply, Inc. for natural gas boiler and cast iron radiators, specifically covering parts only for this heating system project.

Two additional contracts focused on professional services and facility improvements. Resolution 0868-16 authorized $16,810 for architectural and engineering services for Bell House, to be provided by Fitzsimmons Office of Architecture, Inc. Resolution 0869-16 approved $10,350 for the Kenwick Community Center Window Replacement Project, with services provided by W.R. Cole and Associates, Inc.

These four resolutions collectively demonstrate the municipality's investment in infrastructure maintenance, emergency preparedness, and facility improvements. The contracts span essential services including emergency power systems, heating infrastructure, architectural planning, and building renovations across multiple municipal properties.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one speaker addressed the council.

Jason Rotherman, President of the local Fraternal Order of Police, spoke about police disciplinary procedures and investigations 10:00. Rotherman expressed gratitude for the strong relationships that exist between Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government leaders and the Division of Police. His comments focused on the current state of police disciplinary procedures within the department.

No other members of the public provided comments during this portion of the meeting.

Appointments

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

New Appointments: • Demario Anderson was appointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • Sherelle Pierre was appointed to the Board of Health • Stephanie Theakston was appointed to the Community Action Council • Jordan Parker was appointed to the Courthouse Area Design Review Board • James Gitzinger was appointed to the Senior Services Commission

Reappointments: • Neena Khanna was reappointed to the Senior Services Commission

These appointments fill positions across multiple municipal boards and commissions that serve various functions in city governance, from public health oversight to community development and senior citizen services.

Contested Items

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

Ad Valorem Tax for Soil and Water Conservation District

The council considered an ordinance to levy ad valorem taxes for the Soil and Water Conservation District, which generated significant disagreement among members. The proposal faced opposition from three council members who voted against the measure.

Despite the opposition, the ordinance ultimately passed, indicating that a majority of council members supported implementing the tax levy for the Soil and Water Conservation District. The split vote demonstrates the divisive nature of this taxation issue, with council members holding differing views on the necessity and appropriateness of levying additional taxes for soil and water conservation purposes.

The specific reasons for the opposition and the arguments made by both sides of the debate are not detailed in the available information, but the split vote clearly indicates this was a contentious issue that did not have unanimous support from the governing body.

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

Ordinances – Second Reading

5:09

The council conducted second readings for several municipal ordinances during this agenda item. Mayor Gray, Henson, and Kay participated in the proceedings for these ordinances, which covered various municipal tax and administrative matters.

The ordinances presented for second reading included:

• An ordinance establishing ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes
• An ordinance related to the Agricultural Extension Office
• An ordinance concerning the Public Health Tax
• An ordinance regarding the Soil and Water Conservation District

These ordinances represent routine municipal tax levies and administrative measures necessary for ongoing city operations and services. The ad valorem tax ordinance establishes property tax rates for general municipal purposes, while the other ordinances address specific departmental and district funding requirements.

The Agricultural Extension Office ordinance relates to the city's support for agricultural education and outreach services. The Public Health Tax ordinance establishes funding mechanisms for public health services and programs. The Soil and Water Conservation District ordinance addresses the city's participation in environmental conservation efforts and related funding obligations.

All ordinances presented for second reading were approved by the council. Second reading represents the final step in the ordinance adoption process, following the initial first reading and any required public notice periods. The approval of these ordinances ensures continued funding and operation of essential municipal services and the city's participation in regional programs for agricultural extension, public health, and environmental conservation.

Resolutions – Second Reading

11:00

The council conducted second readings of multiple resolutions during this portion of the meeting. The resolutions covered various municipal contracts and services requiring formal approval.

Key speakers during this agenda item included Farmer and Kay, who presented the resolutions for consideration. The resolutions addressed several operational needs for the municipality:

• Emergency Generator Electrical Connections - A resolution authorizing a contract for electrical work related to emergency generator systems
• Natural Gas Boiler Parts - A resolution approving the procurement of replacement parts for natural gas boiler equipment
• Architectural Services - A resolution authorizing a contract for professional architectural services

The second reading process allows council members to review the resolutions after their initial presentation and ask any final questions before voting. This procedural step ensures proper deliberation on municipal contracts and expenditures.

All resolutions presented during the second reading were approved by the council. The specific vote counts and any discussion details were not provided in the available materials, but the resolutions successfully passed this stage of the approval process.

These resolutions represent routine municipal business involving infrastructure maintenance, equipment procurement, and professional services necessary for ongoing city operations. The approval of these items allows the municipality to proceed with the contracted work and services outlined in each resolution.