Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on September 15, 2016, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice-Mayor Kay presiding over the session. The meeting addressed two agenda items, including an informational presentation about "Turn the Town Teal for Ovarian Cancer" and consideration of an amendment to Section 16-43(7) of the Code of Ordinances, which was approved by the council. During the session, the council conducted two votes and heard one public comment from a community member. The meeting demonstrated the council's engagement with both community awareness initiatives and municipal code updates as part of their regular legislative duties.

Attendance

The following members were present at the September 15, 2016 meeting:

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

Late: • Hensley

Absent: None

All 14 members were ultimately in attendance, with Hensley arriving late to the meeting. No members were recorded as absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the September 15, 2016 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 0975-16 - Amendment to Conditional Zoning Restrictions Council Member Farmer motioned to amend Ordinance No. 114-2016 to include conditional zoning restrictions, with Council Member Stinnett providing the second. The ordinance passed by a vote of 14-0 with no abstentions.

Voting in favor: Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Hensley, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Akers, Bledsoe, F. Brown, and J. Brown.

Resolution 0956-16 - SCBA Parts Contract Award Council Member Akers motioned to accept the bid from Alpha Omega Industries, LLC for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) parts, seconded by Council Member Stinnett. This resolution passed unanimously with a vote of 15-0 and no abstentions.

Voting in favor: Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Hensley, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Akers, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, and Evans.

Both votes demonstrated strong council unity, with no opposition or abstentions recorded on either measure. The difference in vote totals reflects Council Member Evans being present for the second vote but not the first.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial items through formal resolutions.

Fire Department Equipment Contract

The council considered Resolution 0956-16 authorizing a contract with Alpha Omega Industries, LLC for SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) parts for the Division of Fire and Emergency Services. The specific contract amount was not disclosed in the available materials.

Town Branch Commons Project Services

Resolution 0978-16 authorized additional professional services for the Town Branch Commons Project with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. in the amount of $1,688,441.50. This represents supplemental consulting work related to the ongoing development project.

Both items were presented as contract authorizations requiring council approval. The resolutions follow the standard municipal numbering system for the 2016 fiscal year, with Resolution 0956-16 and Resolution 0978-16 representing separate agenda items for council consideration.

The fire department contract addresses critical safety equipment needs for emergency responders, while the Town Branch Commons contract represents a substantial investment in the community development project. The AECOM contract amount of over $1.6 million indicates the scope and complexity of the additional professional services required for the Town Branch Commons initiative.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one resident addressed the council regarding municipal service boundaries and economic development policies.

Mr. McCarthy spoke to the council about the relationship between service boundary expansion and business incentives. He suggested that the council should discontinue offering incentives to businesses to relocate to Lexington if those businesses are not willing to support expanding the city's service boundary. His comments appeared to link economic development strategies with infrastructure and service area considerations.

No transcript timestamps were available for this portion of the meeting.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments to various boards and commissions:

• Carolyn Looff was appointed to CASA of Lexington

• Dr. Kraig Humbaugh was appointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board

• Zachary Lieb was appointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board

• Jacob Hollabaugh was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

• Hayley Robic was appointed to the Picnic with the Pops Commission

The appointments covered a range of municipal advisory bodies, from emergency medical services oversight to parks and recreation planning and special event coordination. Two individuals were appointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board during this meeting.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that generated heated discussion among council members.

Town Branch Commons Project Contract Increase

Council Member Mossotti raised concerns about a substantial increase in the contract price for the Town Branch Commons Project. The nature of Mossotti's questioning suggested significant skepticism about the cost escalation, prompting what was characterized as a heated discussion during the meeting.

Commissioner Dowell Hoskins-Squier provided explanations for the contract price increase in response to Mossotti's inquiries. However, the available records do not specify the exact dollar amounts involved in the increase, the original contract value, or the detailed justifications provided by the Commissioner.

The disagreement centered on the financial aspects of this public works project, with Mossotti apparently seeking greater transparency and accountability regarding the cost overruns. The Town Branch Commons Project appears to be a significant municipal undertaking, given the level of scrutiny it received during the meeting.

The outcome of this contested discussion is not specified in the available meeting records, leaving unclear whether the contract increase was ultimately approved, modified, or tabled for further review.

Turn the Town Teal for Ovarian Cancer

Council Member Stinnett presented agenda item 1046-16 regarding the "Turn the Town Teal" initiative to promote Ovarian Cancer Awareness. The presentation focused on raising awareness about ovarian cancer and recognizing survivors within the community.

During the presentation, Stinnett shared personal stories related to ovarian cancer, emphasizing the importance of community support and awareness for this disease. The "Turn the Town Teal" event uses the signature teal color associated with ovarian cancer awareness campaigns to create visibility and solidarity.

Key participants in the discussion included Ruth Jefferson and John Weyl, who contributed to the conversation about the awareness initiative. The presentation highlighted the experiences of ovarian cancer survivors and the need for continued community engagement in supporting those affected by the disease.

This agenda item was informational in nature, serving to educate council members and the public about the Turn the Town Teal campaign rather than requiring any formal action or vote. The presentation aimed to build community awareness and support for ovarian cancer patients and survivors through this local initiative.

The discussion underscored the council's commitment to supporting health awareness campaigns that benefit community members facing serious medical challenges.

Amend Section 16-43(7) of the Code of Ordinances

The council considered Ordinance 0921-16, which proposed amendments to Section 16-43(7) of the Code of Ordinances regarding sanitary sewer local limits on chemical constituent contributors. The ordinance was designed to update existing regulations to reflect new limits that had been approved by the Kentucky Division of Water.

The proposed changes would modify the local limits that govern what chemical constituents can be discharged into the sanitary sewer system by industrial and commercial contributors. These limits are established to protect the wastewater treatment system and ensure compliance with state environmental regulations.

The amendments were necessary to align the city's ordinances with updated standards set forth by the Kentucky Division of Water, ensuring that local regulations remain consistent with state requirements for wastewater management and environmental protection.

Following consideration of the ordinance, the council approved the measure. The approval means that the updated chemical constituent limits will be incorporated into the city's Code of Ordinances, providing clearer guidance for businesses and industries that discharge wastewater into the municipal sewer system while maintaining compliance with state environmental standards.