Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on October 27, 2016, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice-Mayor Kay presiding over the session. The meeting focused primarily on recognizing outstanding community contributions and achievements, with four agenda items dedicated to honoring various individuals and organizations for their service and accomplishments. The council conducted two votes during the session and heard no public comments from citizens.

The meeting's agenda was entirely ceremonial in nature, featuring recognition presentations for Ms. Ruby Allnutt's service, the Markey Cancer Center in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Commerce Lexington for their award recognition. All four agenda items were informational presentations that celebrated community members and organizations making positive impacts in Lexington. The session demonstrated the council's commitment to acknowledging the valuable contributions of citizens, healthcare institutions, disability employment advocates, and economic development organizations within the community.

Attendance

The following members were present at the October 27, 2016 meeting:

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

Absent: • Mossotti

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 took action on two items during the October 27, 2016 meeting, with both measures passing by different margins.

Ordinance 1146-16 3:00 The council voted on an ordinance creating Section 12-8.4 of the Code of Ordinances related to accumulation of snow. Council member Henson made the motion, which was seconded by F. Brown. The ordinance passed by a narrow margin in a roll call vote of 8 ayes to 6 nays with no abstentions.

Voting in favor were: • Kay • Lamb • Plomin • Akers • F. Brown • J. Brown • Gibbs • Henson

Voting against were: • Moloney • Scutchfield • Stinnett • Bledsoe • Evans • Farmer

Resolution 1110-16 7:00 The council considered a resolution accepting the bid of Adams Contracting, LLC, for Training Tower Concrete Floor Slabs. Council member Farmer made the motion, seconded by Plomin. This resolution received much broader support, passing with 13 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention.

All council members voted in favor except for one abstention: • Kay • Lamb • Plomin • Scutchfield • Stinnett • Akers • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs • Henson

The identity of the council member who abstained was not specified in the voting record. Both measures were decided by roll call votes, providing a clear record of each council member's position on the issues.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts totaling $75,500 for municipal projects.

Training Tower Construction Contract The council considered Resolution 1110-16, authorizing a $29,500 contract with Adams Contracting, LLC for Training Tower Concrete Floor Slabs. This contract represents infrastructure improvements to the city's training facilities.

Jacobson Park Sprayground Project Resolution 1024-16 involved a $46,000 contract with Element Design, PLLC for the Jacobson Park Sprayground Project. This represents the larger of the two financial commitments and focuses on recreational facility development at Jacobson Park.

Both contracts required formal resolution approval and represent ongoing municipal infrastructure and recreation investments. The combined financial commitment of $75,500 reflects the city's continued investment in both public safety training facilities and community recreational amenities.

Appointments

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

Four individuals were reappointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board: • Jeffrey Fugate was reappointed • Paula King was reappointed • Charlie Lanter was reappointed • Paul Thornsberry was reappointed

Additionally, two new appointments were made: • Michael Frieman was appointed to the Board of Health • Susan Roberts was appointed to the Sister Cities Program Commission

These appointments represent the city's ongoing efforts to maintain active participation on key municipal boards and commissions that oversee important community services and programs.

Contested Items

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

Snow Accumulation Ordinance

An ordinance addressing snow accumulation on sidewalks generated disagreement among council members, ultimately passing despite the divided opinions. The contention centered around two primary concerns: enforcement mechanisms and timing requirements for snow removal.

Council members expressed differing views on how strictly the ordinance should be enforced and what timeframe property owners should have to clear snow from sidewalks after snowfall events. The debate reflected broader questions about balancing public safety concerns with practical considerations for residents and businesses.

Despite the disagreements, the ordinance was approved through a split vote, indicating that while a majority supported the measure, there was significant opposition or concern among some council members about specific provisions within the legislation.

The split vote outcome demonstrates that while the ordinance moved forward, the implementation and enforcement of snow removal requirements on sidewalks remains a point of ongoing discussion within the council.

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

Recognition of Service: Ms. Ruby Allnutt

1:00

The meeting included a special recognition presentation for Ms. Ruby Allnutt, who was honored for her remarkable 50-year career serving at the Stonewall Elementary School Cafeteria. Speaker Bledsoe presented the recognition during this ceremonial agenda item.

Ms. Allnutt's five decades of service represents an extraordinary commitment to the school community, having dedicated her career to providing meals and support to generations of students at Stonewall Elementary School. The recognition acknowledged her long-standing contribution to the educational environment and her role in the daily operations of the school.

This agenda item (1093-16) served as an informational presentation to formally acknowledge Ms. Allnutt's milestone achievement and years of dedicated service to the school district. The recognition highlights the important role that support staff play in the educational system and celebrates the continuity of service that Ms. Allnutt provided throughout her career.

The presentation was ceremonial in nature, with no debate or discussion required, as it focused solely on honoring Ms. Allnutt's significant contribution to the Stonewall Elementary School community over her half-century tenure in the cafeteria.

Recognition of Markey Cancer Center and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

1:30

The meeting included a formal recognition of the Markey Cancer Center and a declaration of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month under agenda item 1205-16. Speaker Akers presented this recognition item to acknowledge the important work being conducted at the cancer center.

Two individuals were specifically recognized for their contributions to the Markey Cancer Center: • Dr. Patrick McGrath • Mr. David Goskey

The recognition highlighted their work and dedication to cancer research and treatment at the facility. As part of this agenda item, October was officially declared as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, emphasizing the importance of breast cancer awareness and prevention efforts.

This was an informational presentation with no debate or discussion required. The item served as a ceremonial recognition of both the individuals' contributions to cancer care and the broader public health initiative of promoting breast cancer awareness during the month of October.

Recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month

2:00

Ms. Henson presented a proclamation declaring October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month during the meeting. This agenda item, identified as 1206-16, served as an informational presentation to formally recognize the national observance.

The proclamation acknowledged the importance of raising awareness about disability employment issues and promoting inclusive hiring practices. National Disability Employment Awareness Month is observed annually in October to highlight the contributions of workers with disabilities and encourage employers to recognize the value and talent that people with disabilities bring to the workplace.

This was a ceremonial presentation with no action required from the governing body. The item served to demonstrate the organization's commitment to disability awareness and employment inclusion initiatives.

Award Recognition for Commerce Lexington

2:30

The council recognized Commerce Lexington for receiving the Chamber of the Year award during agenda item 1102-16. Speaker Stinnett presented this recognition to acknowledge the organization's outstanding achievements.

This was an informational presentation celebrating Commerce Lexington's receipt of this prestigious award. The recognition highlighted the chamber's contributions to the local business community and economic development efforts.

No discussion or debate occurred during this agenda item, as it served as a formal acknowledgment of Commerce Lexington's accomplishment. The presentation was purely ceremonial in nature, allowing the council to publicly congratulate the organization on this significant honor.

The item concluded without any action required from the council, fulfilling its purpose as a recognition presentation for the Chamber of the Year award recipient.