Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on May 25, 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, both ordinances that were successfully approved by the council. During the proceedings, the council conducted two formal votes and heard from two members of the public who provided comments on matters before the body. The meeting resulted in the passage of Ordinance 1081-16 and Ordinance 0502-17, demonstrating productive legislative action by the council.

Attendance

All council members were present for the May 25, 2017 meeting.

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

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two ordinances during the May 25, 2017 meeting, both passing by roll call vote.

Ordinance 1081-16 2:00 Mr. Farmer motioned to approve an amendment to Article 23A-10 of the Zoning Ordinance for new land uses within the expansion area, with Ms. Henson providing the second. The ordinance passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Smith, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, Lamb, and Moloney.

Ordinance 0502-17 3:00 Ms. Henson motioned to approve an amendment to Section 18-1(19) of the Code of Ordinances to include those in wheelchairs in the definition of 'pedestrian', with Mr. Farmer seconding the motion. The ordinance passed with 13 ayes and 2 nays. Council members voting in favor were: Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Smith, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Gibbs, Henson, Lamb, and Moloney. Mr. Farmer and Mr. Kay voted against the ordinance.

Both votes were conducted as roll call votes with no abstentions recorded for either ordinance.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant contract awards totaling $124,080 for municipal infrastructure projects.

Police Department Infrastructure The council approved Resolution 0460-17, authorizing a $63,142 contract with Echo 24, Inc. for a wiring project at the Police Roll Call facility. This project represents a substantial investment in upgrading the department's communication and electrical infrastructure.

Wastewater Treatment Facility Equipment Resolution 0514-17 was approved, awarding a $60,938 contract to Crane Tec, Inc. for interior bridge cranes at the Town Branch WWTP Solids Processing Building. This equipment purchase supports the ongoing operations and maintenance capabilities at the wastewater treatment plant.

Both contracts represent necessary infrastructure investments to maintain and improve municipal services. The police department wiring project will enhance operational capabilities, while the wastewater treatment facility crane installation will support critical utility operations for the community.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available in the provided source materials.*

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the meeting during the public comment period on May 25, 2017.

Bernard Mccarthy spoke first, addressing development policy and urban planning issues 17:00. Mr. Mccarthy suggested that the city should charge exactions on all new developments. He also recommended expanding the urban service boundary as part of the city's growth management strategy.

Dr. Carl Lang followed, advocating for healthcare funding 18:00. Dr. Lang spoke in support of providing funding for Mission Lexington, which he described as a free medical and dental clinic. He emphasized the importance of this facility for serving uninsured residents in the community who lack access to healthcare services.

The public comments covered two distinct policy areas: development impact fees and urban growth management from Mr. Mccarthy, and healthcare access for underserved populations from Dr. Lang.

Appointments

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

New Appointments: • Philip Suiter was appointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board • Melissa Snow-Groves was appointed to the Environmental Commission • Beth Workman was appointed to the Environmental Commission

Reappointments: • Wayne Masterman was reappointed to the Parking Authority Board/Public Parking Corporation Board

The appointments represent the city's ongoing efforts to maintain active participation on key municipal boards and commissions that oversee important areas including affordable housing policy, environmental matters, and parking management.

Contested Items

Two ordinances generated significant debate during the May 25, 2017 meeting, with council members expressing strong disagreements on key policy issues.

Ordinance 1081-16 sparked heated discussion among council members regarding proposed changes to the zoning ordinance. The debate centered on concerns about transparency in the amendment process and questions about how the changes would affect different parcels of land throughout the jurisdiction. Council members raised issues about whether property owners had been adequately informed about potential impacts to their land use rights. The discussion revealed divisions among council members about the scope and implementation of the zoning modifications, though specific voting details and the final outcome were not recorded in the available materials.

Ordinance 0502-17 resulted in a split vote on legislation that would expand the definition of "pedestrian" to include individuals using wheelchairs. While the ordinance ultimately passed, two council members voted against the measure, creating a notable division on what some viewed as a straightforward accessibility issue. The opposition votes suggest disagreement among council members about either the specific language of the ordinance, its implementation requirements, or broader policy implications for pedestrian infrastructure and regulations.

Both contested items highlight ongoing tensions within the council regarding policy development processes and the scope of municipal regulations. The zoning ordinance debate particularly emphasized concerns about government transparency and community engagement, while the pedestrian definition vote revealed differing perspectives on accessibility legislation among elected officials.

Ordinance 1081-16

2:00

The council considered Ordinance 1081-16, which would amend Article 23A-10 of the Zoning Ordinance to allow for new land uses within the expansion area.

Ms. Lamb and Mr. Duncan served as the key speakers during the discussion of this zoning amendment. The ordinance specifically targets modifications to existing zoning regulations that would permit additional types of development and land use activities in designated expansion areas of the jurisdiction.

The proposed changes to Article 23A-10 represent an update to the municipal zoning framework, potentially opening new opportunities for development while maintaining regulatory oversight through the existing ordinance structure.

Following discussion by the council members, Ordinance 1081-16 was approved, allowing the zoning amendments to move forward and take effect according to the standard municipal ordinance implementation process.

Ordinance 0502-17

3:00

The council considered Ordinance 0502-17, which proposes to amend Section 18-1(19) of the Code of Ordinances to include individuals in wheelchairs within the definition of "pedestrian."

Ms. Henson and Mr. Farmer served as the key speakers during the discussion of this ordinance. The proposed amendment would expand the existing pedestrian definition to explicitly encompass wheelchair users, ensuring they receive the same protections and considerations under municipal pedestrian regulations.

The ordinance was approved by the council.

This amendment represents an effort to clarify and strengthen accessibility provisions within the city's code by formally recognizing wheelchair users as pedestrians under municipal law. The change would affect how traffic regulations, crosswalk rules, and other pedestrian-related ordinances apply to individuals using wheelchairs for mobility.