Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council held a meeting on October 26, 2017, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice Mayor Kay presiding. The meeting focused primarily on ceremonial recognitions, with two main agenda items honoring local students and international visitors. The council recognized Frederick Douglass High School students for their achievements and welcomed a delegation from County Kildare, Ireland, both serving as informational presentations to the council and community.

During the session, the council conducted two motions and votes on various matters before the body. One member of the public provided comments during the designated public comment period. The meeting represented a blend of community recognition and routine council business, highlighting both local educational accomplishments and international relationships that benefit the Lexington community.

Attendance

The meeting on October 26, 2017 had strong attendance from council members and staff.

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

Absent: • Mayor Gray

Late: • None

A total of 15 members were present for the meeting, with only Mayor Gray noted as absent. No members arrived late to the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 1033-17 3:00 Ms. Henson motioned to approve Ordinance 1033-17, which amends Section 4-12.4(g) of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Code of Ordinances related to kennel regulations. Ms. Mossotti seconded the motion. The ordinance passed by a vote of 15-0, with all council members voting in favor: Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Smith, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, and Gibbs.

Resolution 1055-17 4:00 Ms. Plomin motioned to approve Resolution 1055-17, which accepts the bid of Bradley Hook It Up Mobile, LLC for Vehicle Pressure Washing Steam Cleaning services. Mr. Farmer seconded the motion. The resolution passed unanimously with a vote of 15-0. All council members voted in favor: Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Scutchfield, Smith, Stinnett, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, and Gibbs.

Both votes were conducted as roll call votes with no abstentions recorded. The unanimous support for both measures indicates broad council consensus on the kennel regulation amendments and the vehicle cleaning service contract award.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts through formal resolutions.

Picadome Golf Course Stormwater Wetlands Project The council approved Resolution 1074-17, authorizing a contract with Advanced Mulching Technologies, Inc. d/b/a EcoGro for $181,331.75. This contract covers the Picadome Golf Course Stormwater Wetlands Project, representing a substantial investment in environmental infrastructure at the municipal golf facility.

South Elkhorn Trail Project Design Resolution 1034-17 was approved, establishing a contract with CDP Engineers, Inc. for $50,110 to provide design services for the South Elkhorn Trail Project. This contract represents the design phase of trail development infrastructure.

The combined financial commitments from these two resolutions totaled $231,441.75, with the majority of funds allocated to the stormwater wetlands project at Picadome Golf Course. Both contracts involve infrastructure improvements that serve recreational and environmental purposes within the community.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the meeting during the public comment period.

Bernard McCarthy spoke regarding traffic and street construction issues 13:00. Mr. McCarthy expressed concerns about reducing street capacity in the community. He suggested that the city should consider implementing traffic impact fees for developers as a way to address traffic-related infrastructure needs and impacts from new development projects.

Appointments

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

Michael Lamb was appointed to the Internal Audit Board. The Internal Audit Board provides oversight of the city's financial operations and ensures proper auditing procedures are followed.

Elias Haddad was appointed to the Transit Authority Board. This board oversees public transportation operations and policy decisions for the city's transit system.

Shannon Singleton was appointed to the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission is responsible for reviewing ethical conduct matters and ensuring compliance with municipal ethics standards.

All three appointments were processed during the October 26, 2017 meeting, though specific vote counts and discussion details were not provided in the available meeting data.

Recognition of Frederick Douglass High School Students

2:00

The board recognized students from Frederick Douglass High School for their work addressing emotional trauma and violence in their community. Agenda item 1166-17 was presented as an informational presentation highlighting student achievements and community engagement efforts.

Ms. Evans served as a key speaker during the recognition, along with participating students who presented their work to the board. The students were acknowledged for their initiatives focused on understanding and addressing the impacts of emotional trauma and violence, demonstrating their commitment to creating positive change in their school and broader community.

The presentation showcased the students' dedication to tackling challenging social issues that affect their peers and neighborhoods. Their work on emotional trauma and violence prevention represents significant student leadership and community involvement from Frederick Douglass High School.

This agenda item was informational in nature, serving to publicly acknowledge and celebrate the students' contributions rather than requiring board action or decision-making. The recognition provided an opportunity for the board to highlight positive student engagement and community-focused initiatives taking place within the district.

The students' work on addressing emotional trauma and violence demonstrates the type of meaningful student leadership and social awareness that the district seeks to foster and support across its schools.

Recognition of Delegation from County Kildare, Ireland

3:00

The meeting included a formal recognition of a visiting delegation from County Kildare, Ireland, highlighting the sister city relationship between Lexington and the Irish county. This agenda item, designated as 1167-17, served as a ceremonial presentation to welcome the international visitors.

Key speakers during this recognition included Mr. Farmer and Mayor Martin Miley, who participated in the formal acknowledgment of the delegation. The presentation focused on celebrating the ongoing sister city partnership between the two jurisdictions.

The agenda item was informational in nature, serving as a diplomatic courtesy to formally recognize the visiting delegation and reinforce the international relationship between Lexington and County Kildare. No formal action was required or taken during this portion of the meeting.

This type of recognition reflects the city's commitment to maintaining international partnerships and cultural exchanges through its sister city program. The formal acknowledgment of visiting delegations is a standard practice in municipal government to honor these relationships and provide public recognition of international cooperation efforts.