Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on March 2, 2017, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding. The meeting focused entirely on recognition items, with four informational agenda items presented to honor various community organizations and initiatives. The council recognized members of the Lexington Fire Department and High Street YMCA, acknowledged National Social Work Month, celebrated Altrusa's 100th Anniversary, and honored Read Across America. Three motions and votes were taken during the session, while no public comments were heard. The meeting served as a ceremonial session to highlight the contributions of local organizations and national awareness campaigns important to the Lexington community.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on March 2, 2017:

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

Absent: • J. Brown

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 15 members were present, with 1 member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted three roll call votes during the March 2, 2017 meeting.

Ordinance 0192-17 2:00 The council voted on an ordinance creating Section 14-106 of the Code of Ordinances regarding delivery of unsolicited written materials. Council member Henson made the motion, seconded by Plomin. The ordinance passed by a vote of 9 ayes to 5 nays.

Voting in favor were: • Gibbs • Henson • Higgins • Kay • Moloney • Plomin • Scutchfield • Bledsoe • F. Brown

Voting against were: • Lamb • Mossotti • Stinnett • Evans • Farmer

Second Reading Ordinances 3:00 Council member Henson motioned to approve second reading ordinances, with Plomin providing the second. The motion passed unanimously with all 14 council members voting in favor: Gibbs, Henson, Higgins, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, Evans, and Farmer.

Second Reading Resolutions 5:00 Kay motioned to approve second reading resolutions, seconded by Scutchfield. This motion also passed unanimously with all 14 council members voting in favor: Gibbs, Henson, Higgins, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, Evans, and Farmer.

All three votes were conducted as roll call votes with no abstentions recorded.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant contract awards totaling $971,698 for various municipal infrastructure projects.

Fire Department Infrastructure The council approved contract 0157-17 with LMR Construction, LLC for $244,900 to construct a pre-fabricated building for the Lincoln Fire Department's Hose Shop and Vehicle Storage facility. This project will provide dedicated space for equipment maintenance and vehicle storage operations.

Parks and Recreation Improvements Contract 0182-17 was awarded to Fuel Band, LLC in the amount of $195,398 for the construction of restrooms and a concession stand at Martin Luther King Park. This facility will enhance visitor amenities and support recreational activities at the park.

Water Infrastructure Upgrades The largest contract, 0199-17, was approved for $531,400 with Herrick Co., Inc. to complete the West Hickman Zone 2 Aeration Improvements. This water treatment infrastructure project represents a significant investment in the city's water system capacity and quality.

All three contracts represent capital improvements across different city departments, including public safety, parks and recreation, and utilities infrastructure. The combined expenditure of nearly $1 million demonstrates the city's commitment to maintaining and upgrading essential municipal facilities and services.

Appointments

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

Board of Adjustment • William 'Harry' Clarke was appointed to the Board of Adjustment

Environmental Commission • Zach Miller was appointed to the Environmental Commission

Greenspace Commission • Elizabeth Jenson was appointed to the Greenspace Commission • Joe Kane was appointed to the Greenspace Commission

Tree Board • Ian Hoffman was appointed to the Tree Board • Daniel Stever was appointed to the Tree Board

A total of six appointments were made across four different municipal bodies, with the Greenspace Commission and Tree Board each receiving two new appointees.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that generated substantial debate among council members.

Ordinance on Unsolicited Written Materials

An ordinance addressing unsolicited written materials faced considerable opposition during the meeting, resulting in a split vote among council members. The primary source of contention centered on two key concerns raised by several council members.

First, multiple council members expressed serious reservations about the ordinance's potential impact on free speech rights. These members argued that the proposed regulations could infringe upon First Amendment protections and create unnecessary restrictions on legitimate forms of communication and expression.

Second, council members raised practical concerns about enforcement issues. They questioned how the ordinance would be implemented effectively and whether the city had adequate resources and mechanisms to enforce the proposed regulations fairly and consistently.

The debate highlighted a fundamental disagreement among council members about balancing community concerns regarding unsolicited materials with constitutional protections and practical governance considerations. Those opposing the ordinance emphasized the importance of preserving free speech rights and avoiding potentially problematic enforcement scenarios.

The ordinance ultimately proceeded to a vote despite the significant opposition, resulting in a split decision among council members. The divided vote reflected the contentious nature of the issue and the genuine policy disagreements that emerged during the discussion.

This contested item demonstrated the challenges local governments face when attempting to regulate activities that intersect with constitutional rights while addressing community concerns about unwanted materials and communications.

Recognizing members of Lexington Fire Dept. and High Street YMCA

1:00

Mayor Gray presented proclamation 0237-17 recognizing the life-saving efforts of Lexington Fire Department personnel and High Street YMCA staff who responded to save David Barberie during a cardiac arrest incident.

The proclamation honored the quick thinking and professional response of both the firefighters and YMCA staff members who worked together during the medical emergency. Their coordinated efforts and immediate action were credited with saving Barberie's life when he suffered cardiac arrest.

David Barberie was present at the meeting and served as a key speaker alongside Mayor Gray during the recognition ceremony. The proclamation highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and the value of having trained personnel available in community facilities like the YMCA.

This was an informational item that celebrated the collaborative emergency response between city fire department personnel and community organization staff. The recognition underscored the critical role that both public safety officials and trained civilian responders play in emergency medical situations.

The proclamation served to publicly acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of the individuals involved in the life-saving response, demonstrating the city's appreciation for their service to the community.

Recognizing National Social Work Month

2:00

Mayor Gray presented a proclamation declaring March 2017 as Social Work Month in Lexington. The proclamation, designated as item 0238-17, formally recognized the significant contributions of social workers to the community.

During the presentation, Mayor Gray highlighted the important role that social workers play in supporting individuals, families, and communities throughout Lexington. The proclamation acknowledged the professional dedication and service of social workers in addressing various social challenges and improving the quality of life for residents.

Chris Ford also participated in the discussion, contributing to the recognition of the social work profession's impact on the community.

The agenda item was informational in nature, serving to formally acknowledge and celebrate the work of social workers during their designated national recognition month. No debate or concerns were raised regarding the proclamation, as it represented a ceremonial recognition of the profession's valuable contributions to the city.

The proclamation aligns with the national observance of Social Work Month, which occurs annually in March to raise awareness about the social work profession and honor the dedication of social workers across the country.

Recognizing Altrusa 100th Anniversary

3:00

Mayor Gray presented a proclamation recognizing Altrusa International's 100th anniversary during the March 2, 2017 meeting. The agenda item 0239-17 designated April 11, 2017, as Altrusa Awareness Day in the city.

Becky Mercier participated in the presentation alongside Mayor Gray. The proclamation honored the century-long service of Altrusa International, a service organization dedicated to community improvement and literacy programs.

The item was presented as an informational proclamation with no formal action required from the council. The recognition highlighted Altrusa's contributions to communities over its 100-year history and acknowledged the organization's ongoing work in literacy and community service initiatives.

The proclamation serves to raise awareness about Altrusa International's mission and encourages community members to recognize the organization's volunteer efforts on the designated awareness day.

Recognizing Read Across America

4:00

Mayor Gray presented Proclamation 0245-17, officially declaring March 2, 2017, as Read Across America Day in Lexington. The proclamation coincided with the 113th birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss, whose works have inspired generations of young readers.

The Read Across America initiative is a nationwide celebration designed to promote literacy and encourage reading among children and families. By issuing this proclamation, the city of Lexington joined communities across the country in recognizing the importance of reading education and early childhood literacy development.

Ms. Evans participated in the presentation alongside Mayor Gray, though the specific nature of her involvement was not detailed in the available materials. The proclamation served as an informational item, requiring no formal vote or debate from the council.

The timing of the proclamation aligned with Dr. Seuss's actual birthday, making March 2nd a particularly meaningful date for the literacy celebration. Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, authored numerous classic children's books including "The Cat in the Hat," "Green Eggs and Ham," and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

This proclamation represents the city's commitment to supporting educational initiatives and recognizing the fundamental role that reading plays in child development and academic success. Read Across America Day typically involves schools, libraries, and community organizations hosting special reading events and activities to engage children with books and storytelling.

The agenda item was presented as a ceremonial recognition without requiring further council action or discussion.