Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on April 13, 2017, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding over the session. The meeting addressed two agenda items, including a recognition ceremony for the Lexington Division of Police Explorers Post #357 and consideration of a curfew ordinance amendment. The council conducted two votes during the session, with the curfew ordinance amendment receiving approval. No public comments were heard during this meeting, and one informational presentation was given regarding the police explorers program.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on April 13, 2017:

• Higgins
• Kay
• Lamb
• Moloney
• Mossotti
• Plomin
• Scutchfield
• Stinnett
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Evans
• Gibbs
• Henson
• Farmer (arrived late)

No members were recorded as absent from the meeting. Farmer was noted as arriving late to the proceedings.

A total of 15 members were in attendance for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting.

Motion 0131-17 3:00 - Councilmember Stinnett moved to amend the curfew ordinance to change the curfew time to 12:00 a.m., with a second from Councilmember Moloney. The motion passed by a narrow margin with 8 ayes and 7 nays.

Voting in favor were: • Higgins • Lamb • Moloney • Scutchfield • Stinnett • Bledsoe • F. Brown • Henson

Voting against were: • Kay • Mossotti • Plomin • J. Brown • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs

Motion 0225-17 4:00 - Councilmember Stinnett moved for a zone change for properties on Chair Ave and S. Broadway, with a second from Councilmember Plomin. The motion passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays.

All council members present voted in favor: • Higgins • Kay • Lamb • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Scutchfield • Stinnett • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Farmer • Gibbs • Henson

Both motions were decided by roll call vote with no abstentions recorded for either item.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts totaling approximately $490,626.

LFD Facilities Maintenance Building Phase II - The board approved contract 0365-17 with Omni Commercial, LLC for $457,783. This contract covers the second phase of facilities maintenance building improvements for the LFD (Local Fire Department).

Advanced Electronic IED Disablement Training and Equipment - Contract 0404-17 was approved with Special Electronics, Inc. for $32,843.34. This contract provides specialized training and equipment for advanced electronic improvised explosive device (IED) disablement capabilities.

Both contracts represent investments in critical infrastructure and public safety capabilities, with the facilities maintenance project representing the larger financial commitment at nearly half a million dollars.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments to the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers organization.

Reappointments: • Brian Burton was reappointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers

New Appointments: • Manlus Burton was appointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • Mark Thomas was appointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers

These appointments reflect the ongoing commitment to maintaining active membership on the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers board, with one member continuing their service through reappointment and two new members joining the organization.

Contested Items

The council faced one significant contested issue during the April 13, 2017 meeting that resulted in a divided vote among members.

Curfew Ordinance Amendment

The primary point of contention involved a proposed amendment to the existing curfew ordinance. Council members debated whether to move the curfew time earlier from 1:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. The discussion revealed a sharp division among the 15-member council regarding the appropriate curfew time for the community.

The debate centered on the merits of implementing a stricter curfew schedule, with supporters arguing for the earlier 12:00 a.m. cutoff time while opponents favored maintaining the current 1:00 a.m. curfew. The close nature of the vote reflected the genuine disagreement among council members about the best approach to curfew enforcement.

After deliberation, the council voted 8-7 in favor of adopting the amendment, making 12:00 a.m. the new curfew time. The narrow margin of victory—decided by just one vote—highlighted the contentious nature of this policy change and the difficulty the council faced in reaching consensus on this community safety issue.

The split vote demonstrates that nearly half of the council members had reservations about moving to the earlier curfew time, suggesting ongoing concerns about the impact and necessity of the stricter policy.

Recognizing the Lexington Division of Police Explorers Post #357

2:00

Mayor Gray and Councilmember Mossotti presented agenda item 0411-17 to recognize the achievements of the Lexington Division of Police Explorers Post #357. The presentation resulted in the official declaration of April 13, 2017, as Police Explorer's Post #357 Day in Lexington.

The Police Explorers program provides young people with hands-on experience and education about law enforcement careers. Post #357 represents the local chapter of this national youth development program operated in partnership with the Lexington Division of Police.

During the presentation, Mayor Gray and Councilmember Mossotti highlighted the accomplishments and contributions of the Explorer post members. The recognition ceremony acknowledged the dedication and achievements of the young participants in the program.

The agenda item was informational in nature, serving as a formal acknowledgment of the Police Explorers' work in the community. No debate or concerns were raised during the presentation, as the item focused on celebrating the youth program's positive impact.

The declaration of Police Explorer's Post #357 Day provides official recognition of the program's value to both the participants and the broader Lexington community. This type of proclamation demonstrates the city's support for youth development programs that build connections between young people and public safety professionals.

Curfew Ordinance Amendment

The council considered Ordinance 0131-17, which proposed amendments to the existing curfew regulations for minors 3:00. The primary change under discussion involved adjusting the curfew time from 1:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

During the discussion, several council members participated in the debate. Stinnett, Moloney, and Evans were among the key speakers who addressed various aspects of the proposed amendment. Chief Barnard also provided input during the proceedings, likely offering perspective from law enforcement regarding the practical implications of the curfew change.

The council deliberated on moving the curfew time one hour earlier, which would require minors to be off the streets by midnight rather than 1:00 a.m. A formal motion was made to implement this change to 12:00 a.m.

Following the discussion, the council proceeded to a roll call vote on the ordinance amendment. The measure was approved, meaning the new curfew time of 12:00 a.m. for minors will take effect as specified in the ordinance.

The passage of Ordinance 0131-17 represents a modification to the city's approach to juvenile curfew enforcement, establishing midnight as the new cutoff time for minors to be in public spaces without adult supervision.