Urban County Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on August 14, 2007, at 3:00 PM with Mayor Newberry presiding. The council addressed three main agenda items during the session, including the cancellation of the Anchor Baptist Church Industrial Revenue Bond Proposal, the discussion and tentative adoption of ad valorem property tax rates, and an informational presentation on a management team audit.

The council conducted 10 motions and votes throughout the meeting, with the most significant action being the approval of property tax rate discussions and tentative adoption. Two members of the public provided comments during the public comment period. The meeting covered both routine administrative matters and important fiscal policy decisions that would impact the urban county's tax structure and revenue generation.

Attendance

All council members were present for the August 14, 2007 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Newberry • CM DeCamp • CM Moloney • CM Stinnett • CM Ellinger • CM McChord • CM Lane • CM Gorton • CM Crosbie • CM Myers • CM Blevins • CM Maloney • CM Beard • CM James • CM Blues • CM Gordon • CM White

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted ten votes during the August 14, 2007 meeting, with all motions passing by voice vote except for one roll call vote on property tax rates.

Docket and Procedural Items

The Council approved several items to be placed on future meeting dockets 0:00:

• Zoning Change - 1388 Alexandria Drive: CM Moloney motioned, seconded by CM Stinnett, to schedule a public hearing for October 2, 2007 at 6 pm regarding changing the zone from Professional Office (P-1) to Neighborhood Business (B-1) for 1.140 net acres. Motion passed by voice vote.

• Zoning Ordinance Amendment: CM Stinnett motioned, seconded by CM Ellinger, to place on the docket without a hearing the issue of amending Article 15-(9a)(3) of the Zoning Ordinance. Motion passed by voice vote.

• Zoning Change - 252 East High Street: CM DeCamp motioned, seconded by CM Ellinger, to schedule a public hearing for September 13, 2007 at 8 pm for changing the zone from High Density Apartment (R-4) to Downtown Frame Business (B2-A) for 0.2195 net acres. Motion passed by voice vote.

• Industrial Revenue Bonds: CM McChord motioned, seconded by CM Stinnett, to place on the August 16, 2007 docket an ordinance authorizing Industrial Revenue Bonds for Anchor Baptist Church, Inc. not to exceed $4.2 million. Motion passed by voice vote.

• Resolution 286-07: CM Stinnett motioned, seconded by CM Gorton, to take off the table and place Resolution 286-07 pertaining to Risk Management employee reclassification on the August 16, 2007 docket. Motion passed by voice vote.

Administrative Approvals

CM Lane motioned, seconded by CM Stinnett, to approve the docket as amended. Motion passed by voice vote 0:00.

CM Gorton motioned, seconded by CM Crosbie, to approve the July 10, 2007 summary. Motion passed by voice vote 0:00.

CM Gorton motioned, seconded by CM Ellinger, to approve budget amendments. Motion passed by voice vote 0:00.

CM Stinnett motioned, seconded by CM Gorton, to approve new business items A-JJ, except item S. Motion passed by voice vote 0:00.

Property Tax Rates

CM Lane motioned, seconded by CM Myers, to maintain prior years' property tax rates with the exception of reducing refuse collection rates to 15.9 cents per $100 assessment. Motion passed by roll call vote 0:00.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved two financial payments related to the city's Fourth of July celebration during the August 14, 2007 meeting.

Resolution 399-07 authorized a payment of $35,000 to Zambelli Fireworks Internationale for providing the Fourth of July fireworks display. This payment covered the costs associated with the annual Independence Day fireworks show that serves as a centerpiece of the city's patriotic celebration.

Resolution 400-07 approved a payment of $21,750 to the Lexington Philharmonic Society for performing a patriotic concert as part of the Fourth of July festivities. This payment compensated the orchestra for their musical performance during the Independence Day celebration.

Combined, these two resolutions totaled $56,750 in expenditures for Fourth of July entertainment programming, representing the city's investment in providing fireworks and live orchestral music for the community's Independence Day observance.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the Council during the public comment period at the August 14, 2007 meeting.

Bobby Clark 0:00, President of the Bell Court Neighborhood Association, spoke regarding the rezoning issue at 225 Walton Avenue. Clark requested additional time for the neighborhood association to make a decision about whether they want to pursue a public hearing on the rezoning matter.

Atheen Stegall 0:00, who identified herself as a senior citizen, brought forward concerns about a property dispute with a neighbor. Stegall expressed frustration that her neighbor was allegedly building on her property and that she had not received adequate assistance from the city's code enforcement department in resolving the matter.

Both speakers used their allotted time to bring neighborhood-level concerns to the Council's attention, with Clark focusing on a procedural matter related to zoning processes and Stegall seeking help with what appeared to be an ongoing property boundary dispute.

Contested Items

The August 14, 2007 Council meeting featured two significant areas of contention that generated substantial discussion and community concern.

Employee Picnic and Half-Day Off Cancellation

A heated discussion arose regarding the cancellation of the annual employee picnic and associated half-day off for city workers. Council members engaged in debate over the decision-making process and its potential impact on employee morale. The discussion centered on whether such changes to employee benefits and scheduled time off required formal council approval, with some members expressing concern that the cancellation was made without proper consultation. The debate highlighted tensions between budget considerations and maintaining positive employee relations within city government.

Meadowbrook Golf Course Acquisition

The potential acquisition of Meadowbrook Golf Course by the city drew significant community opposition and concern. Residents and stakeholders voiced worries about the possible loss of green space if the city failed to acquire the golf course property. The opposition reflected broader community concerns about preserving recreational areas and maintaining open space within the city limits. Community members appeared to view the golf course as an important environmental and recreational asset that warranted city protection through acquisition.

Both contested items reflected underlying tensions between fiscal responsibility and community priorities, with the employee picnic issue highlighting internal city operations concerns while the golf course matter demonstrated external community pressure regarding land use and environmental preservation. The discussions underscored the challenges facing the council in balancing budget constraints with employee satisfaction and community expectations for maintaining recreational and green spaces.

Anchor Baptist Church Industrial Revenue Bond Proposal

0:00

Agenda Item I, the Anchor Baptist Church Industrial Revenue Bond Proposal, was scheduled as a presentation but was canceled during the August 14, 2007 Council meeting. The cancellation occurred due to an earlier motion that had already addressed this issue.

No presentation was delivered and no speakers addressed the Council regarding this agenda item. The item was removed from consideration without discussion of the specific details of the proposed industrial revenue bond for Anchor Baptist Church.

The outcome was that the scheduled presentation did not proceed as planned due to the prior Council action that had resolved the matter earlier in the meeting process.

Discussion and Tentative Adoption of Ad Valorem Property Tax Rates

0:00 Jim Deaton and Connie Underwood presented the proposed ad valorem property tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year to the Council.

The staff recommendation focused on maintaining the majority of the previous year's property tax rates, with one notable exception. The presenters recommended a reduction in the refuse collection rates, representing a decrease from the prior year's assessment levels.

During the presentation, Deaton and Underwood outlined the rationale for keeping most tax rates stable while adjusting the refuse collection component downward. The proposed rates were presented as part of the city's broader budgetary planning process.

The Council discussed the proposed rates during the session, with the presentation covering the technical aspects of the ad valorem tax structure and the specific rate recommendations for each category.

Following the discussion and presentation of the proposed rates, the Council moved forward with tentative adoption of the recommended property tax rates. The item was approved, allowing the proposed rates - including the maintained rates for most categories and the reduced refuse collection rates - to move forward in the budget process.

This tentative adoption represents a preliminary step in the city's annual tax rate setting process, with the rates subject to final approval in subsequent proceedings.

Management Team Audit

0:00

Jerry Newfarmer and Julia Novak presented the scope and approach for the upcoming management team audit during this informational agenda item. The presentation focused on examining efficiency measures and implementing best practices within the city's management structure.

The audit representatives outlined their methodology for evaluating the current management team operations and identifying areas for potential improvement. The presentation emphasized the importance of efficiency in municipal operations and the implementation of industry best practices to enhance service delivery to residents.

This was an informational presentation with no action required from the Council. The item served to inform Council members about the audit process and what they could expect as the evaluation proceeds.

The management audit represents part of the city's ongoing efforts to ensure effective governance and optimal use of public resources through systematic review of administrative operations.