Urban County Council - 2nd Reading of the Budget

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on June 22, 2017, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gray presiding. The council addressed three agenda items during the session, all of which were approved. The meeting included consideration of an ordinance amending Land Subdivision Regulations, an ordinance appropriating revenues and expenditures for Fiscal Year 2018, and a resolution amending a price contract with Environmental Enterprises, Inc. The council conducted two formal votes during the proceedings, with no public comments recorded for this session.

Attendance

All members were present for the meeting on June 22, 2017.

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

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting, both of which passed.

Ordinance 0691-17 0:00 Councilmember Scutchfield motioned to approve the ordinance appropriating revenues, expenditures/expenses and interfund transfers for various funds for FY 2018, with a second from Councilmember Lamb. The ordinance passed with 14 ayes and 1 nay.

Voting in favor: Scutchfield, Smith, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Mossotti, and Plomin.

Voting against: Moloney.

Resolution 0662-17 0:00 Councilmember Henson motioned to approve the resolution amending Resolution No. 140-2017, increasing the price contract with Environmental Enterprises, Inc., with a second from Councilmember Farmer. The resolution passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays.

Voting in favor: Scutchfield, Smith, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, Moloney, Mossotti, and Plomin.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial items totaling approximately $212,915 in city expenditures and contract amendments.

Infrastructure Projects

The city approved Resolution 0604-17, awarding a $71,409 contract to Middlefork Contracting, LLC for pedestrian bridges at Mary Todd Park and Shillito. This infrastructure investment will enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility at these locations.

Building Maintenance

Resolution 0656-17 authorized a $34,950 contract with Benezet and Associates, LLC for exterior building painting and repairs. This maintenance work represents ongoing efforts to preserve city-owned facilities and infrastructure.

Environmental Services

The largest financial action involved Resolution 0662-17, which amended an existing contract with Environmental Enterprises, Inc. for $106,555.69 related to a household hazardous waste recycling event. This amendment represents the city's commitment to providing residents with safe disposal options for hazardous materials that cannot be disposed of through regular waste collection services.

These three resolutions demonstrate the city's investment priorities across infrastructure development, facility maintenance, and environmental stewardship, with the environmental services representing the largest single expenditure among the items considered.

Contested Items

The meeting included discussion of one contested item that generated community debate.

Crosswalks at Main and Short Street

The primary point of contention centered on proposed crosswalks at the intersection of Main and Short Streets. The discussion focused on how these crosswalks would reflect "Lexington's spirit of inclusiveness," though the specific design elements or features that prompted this characterization were not detailed in the available materials.

The item faced community opposition, with some residents expressing dissenting views about the proposal. However, the exact nature of the opposition, the specific concerns raised by community members, and the identities of those who spoke for or against the crosswalk project were not specified in the meeting documentation.

The outcome of this contested item was not clearly indicated in the available materials, leaving unclear whether the crosswalk proposal was approved, rejected, or tabled for future consideration.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this contested item discussion.*

Ordinance amending Land Subdiv. Regulations

0:00

The council considered Ordinance 0593-17, which amends Article 6-8(l) of the Land Subdivision Regulations to establish new signage requirements for private streets. The ordinance requires developers to install permanent signs reading "End of Public Maintenance" at each location where a private street intersects or abuts a public street.

Key speakers during the discussion included Scutchfield and Lamb, who addressed the proposed changes to the subdivision regulations. The amendment aims to provide clear notification to residents and visitors about the transition from publicly maintained streets to privately maintained ones.

The signage requirement is designed to eliminate confusion about maintenance responsibilities and ensure that property owners and the public understand which entity is responsible for street upkeep in different areas of subdivisions. By mandating these permanent markers at intersection points, the ordinance creates a clear delineation between public and private street maintenance obligations.

The council approved Ordinance 0593-17, implementing the new signage requirements for future development projects. This change to the Land Subdivision Regulations will affect how developers must mark the boundaries between public and private street systems in new subdivisions, providing better clarity for residents and municipal services regarding maintenance responsibilities.

Ordinance appropriating revenues and expenditures for FY 2018

0:00 The council considered Ordinance 0691-17, which appropriates revenues, expenditures/expenses and interfund transfers for various funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.

Key speakers during the discussion included Scutchfield and Lamb, who presented details regarding the fiscal year 2018 budget appropriations. The ordinance encompasses the allocation of municipal revenues across different fund categories and establishes spending authority for various city operations and services for the upcoming fiscal year.

The ordinance was approved by the council, establishing the financial framework for city operations during fiscal year 2018.

*Note: Limited transcript details were available for this agenda item. The summary reflects the basic procedural information and outcome of the ordinance consideration.*

Resolution amending price contract with Environmental Enterprises, Inc.

0:00

The council considered Resolution 0662-17, which amended Resolution No. 140-2017 to increase the price contract with Environmental Enterprises, Inc. for the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event.

Key speakers Henson and Farmer presented the amendment, which involved adjusting the contracted amount for hazardous waste collection and disposal services. The original contract required modification to accommodate the scope or costs associated with the community recycling event.

The resolution was approved by the council, allowing the amended contract terms with Environmental Enterprises, Inc. to proceed for the household hazardous waste recycling program.