Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on February 9, 2017, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding. The meeting focused primarily on recognizing community contributions, with two informational agenda items presented to acknowledge local volunteers and youth organizations. The council heard recognition presentations for 10th District Council Volunteer Ally Grzywacz and Girl Scout Troop 7433, both serving as informational items rather than requiring formal council action.

During the session, the council conducted 2 formal votes on motions and received 3 public comments from community members. The meeting's agenda was relatively brief with 2 total agenda items, both centered on community recognition rather than legislative business or policy matters.

Attendance

The following members were present at the February 9, 2017 meeting:

Present: • Mayor Gray • J. Brown • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs • Henson • Higgins • Kay • Lamb • Mossotti • Plomin • Scutchfield • Bledsoe • F. Brown

Absent: • Moloney • Stinnett

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 14 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the February 9, 2017 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 0048-17 4:00 Councilmember Farmer motioned to approve An Ordinance creating Section 21-37(h) of the Code of Ordinances for paid leave for mentoring, with a second from Councilmember Scutchfield. The ordinance passed by roll call vote with 13 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Higgins, Kay, Lamb, Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

Resolution 0052-17 10:00 Councilmember Mossotti motioned to approve A Resolution encouraging the Kentucky General Assembly to disapprove Senate Bill (SB) 7, seconded by Councilmember Farmer. The resolution also passed unanimously by roll call vote with 13 ayes and 0 nays. The same 13 council members voted in favor: J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Higgins, Kay, Lamb, Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

Both votes demonstrated complete council unity, with no opposition or abstentions recorded on either measure. The ordinance establishes new provisions in the municipal code regarding paid leave policies for mentoring activities, while the resolution takes a position on state legislation pending before the Kentucky General Assembly.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts requiring approval through formal resolutions.

Community Corrections Facility Improvements The board considered Resolution 0027-17, authorizing a contract with Simpson & Co., Inc. for painting services at the Division of Community Corrections facility. The contract amount totals $238,197, representing a substantial investment in maintaining the correctional facility's infrastructure.

Emergency Vehicle System Upgrades Resolution 0064-17 was presented for approval of a $79,500 contract with Hastings Air Energy Control, Inc. This contract covers upgrades to Emergency Response Vehicle Exhaust Capture Systems, which are critical safety systems that remove harmful exhaust fumes from emergency vehicle bays and maintenance areas.

The combined value of these two contracts amounts to $317,697 in expenditures. Both items represent ongoing operational and infrastructure maintenance needs for county facilities and emergency services operations.

Public Comment

Three residents addressed the council during the public comment period, raising concerns about city projects, development impacts, and state legislation.

Russell Sitter spoke at 30:00 regarding the bid process for the Jacobson Park Sprayground construction project. Sitter expressed concern that the bidding process may have been conducted improperly and questioned the procedures used for this park improvement project.

Lane Boldman addressed the council at 35:00 about development along the Versailles Road Corridor. Boldman expressed frustration over the loss of historic buildings in the neighborhood and voiced concerns about the impact that new developments are having on the area's character and residents.

Anita Franklin spoke at 45:00 in support of a resolution opposing Senate Bill 7. Franklin shared her personal experience with gun violence, describing how she had lost someone close to her due to gun violence. She urged the council to support the resolution as a way to address gun violence concerns in the community.

The public comments covered a range of local issues from municipal contracting procedures and neighborhood preservation to state-level legislation affecting public safety. Each speaker brought forward specific concerns affecting either city operations or community welfare.

Appointments

The council took action on several board and commission appointments during the February 9, 2017 meeting.

New Appointments: • William 'Harry' Clarke was appointed to the Board of Adjustment • James Hodge was appointed to the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board • Shayla Johnson was appointed to the Social Services Advisory Board

Reappointments: • Jennifer Scutchfield was reappointed to both the Raven Run Citizen Advisory Board and the Senior Services Commission

These appointments fill vacant positions and continue representation on various municipal boards and commissions that advise the council on specialized policy areas including zoning matters, homelessness services, social services, senior citizen issues, and oversight of the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.

Contested Items

Two significant issues drew community opposition and extensive discussion during the February 9, 2017 meeting.

Moratorium on Building Permits Along Versailles Road

Community members voiced strong concerns about proposed new developments along Versailles Road and their potential impact on the area's historic character. Residents expressed opposition to building permits that they felt would compromise historic properties and alter the established neighborhood character. The specific nature of the developments and the extent of community opposition highlighted tensions between growth and historic preservation in this corridor.

Senate Bill 7 Opposition Resolution

The council addressed a resolution opposing Senate Bill 7, which concerned concealed weapons regulations. This item generated significant community engagement, with multiple speakers addressing the council about their concerns regarding the legislation. Community members spoke against the bill, citing public safety concerns as their primary objection to the proposed weapons policy changes.

A state senator also participated in the discussion, adding a legislative perspective to the local debate. The presence of both community members and state-level representation underscored the importance of this issue to local residents and its broader political implications.

The discussion of Senate Bill 7 represented a clear example of local government taking a position on state legislation that residents felt would impact their community's safety and well-being. The resolution process allowed the council to formally express the community's opposition to the state-level policy proposal.

Both contested items reflected broader themes of community preservation—whether protecting historic neighborhood character from development pressures or protecting public safety from perceived legislative threats. The level of community engagement on both issues demonstrated active civic participation in local government decision-making processes.

Recognition of 10th District Council Volunteer Ally Grzywacz

20:00

Mayor Gray and Council Member Bledsoe presented agenda item 0130-17 to formally recognize Ally Grzywacz for her volunteer contributions to the 10th District Council.

During the presentation, Mayor Gray and Council Member Bledsoe highlighted Grzywacz's volunteer service and community involvement. As part of the recognition, they officially declared February 9, 2017, as "Ally Grzywacz Day" in honor of her dedicated volunteer work.

This agenda item was informational in nature, serving as a ceremonial recognition rather than requiring any council action or vote. The presentation acknowledged Grzywacz's contributions to the community through her volunteer efforts with the 10th District Council.

Recognition of Girl Scout Troop 7433

15:00

Mayor Gray and Council Member Evans presented a recognition to Girl Scout Troop 7433 during the February 9, 2017 meeting. The presentation acknowledged the troop's community activities and demonstrated leadership efforts.

The agenda item, designated as 0151-17, served as an informational presentation to honor the Girl Scout troop's contributions to the community. Mayor Gray and Council Member Evans jointly participated in recognizing the young members of Troop 7433.

This recognition was ceremonial in nature, with no formal action required by the council. The presentation highlighted the troop's community involvement and leadership development activities, though specific details of their projects or achievements were not detailed in the available meeting documentation.

The item concluded as an informational presentation with no further council discussion or voting required.