Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on May 3, 2018, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding. The meeting featured two informational agenda items, including a Read Y'all presentation and recognition of the Lexington Legends baseball team. During the session, the council conducted 2 votes on various matters and heard 2 public comments from community members. The meeting focused primarily on informational presentations and community recognition rather than legislative action items.

Attendance

The following members were present at the May 3, 2018 meeting:

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

Absent: • Henson • Mossotti

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting 3:00.

Ordinance 0425-18 - Zoning Change for Harrodsburg Road Properties Council member Farmer motioned to approve an ordinance changing the zone from Agricultural Urban (A-U) to Highway Service Business (B-3) for properties located at 3801, 3901 and 3995 Harrodsburg Road. The motion was seconded by Plomin. The ordinance passed with 12 votes in favor and 1 opposed.

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

Voting against: Lamb.

Ordinance 0469-18 - Budget Amendment Farmer motioned to approve an ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures. Plomin seconded the motion. The ordinance passed unanimously with all 13 council members voting in favor.

Voting in favor: Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Plomin, Smith, Stinnett, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, and Farmer.

Both ordinances were approved during the same portion of the meeting, with Farmer serving as the primary motioner for both items and Plomin providing the seconds. The zoning change ordinance saw the only dissenting vote of the evening from council member Lamb, while the budget amendment received full council support.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial items requiring council approval.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Contract The council considered Resolution 0423-18 for a major infrastructure project at the West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant. The contract with Herrick Co., Inc. totals $1,389,000 and covers the Scum Removal Addition and Ash Tank No. 3 Cover Project. This substantial investment represents ongoing improvements to the city's wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Fire Department Equipment Purchase Resolution 0407-18 authorized the purchase of a vehicle fire simulator prop from BullEx for $39,895. This training equipment will enhance the fire department's ability to conduct realistic emergency response training scenarios.

The two financial actions combined represent $1,428,895 in municipal expenditures, with the wastewater treatment project comprising the majority of the spending at over 97% of the total amount approved.

Public Comment

Two residents spoke during the public comment period to express opposition to a proposed zoning change affecting their neighborhood.

Don Ellington 1:00 addressed the board with concerns about how the proposed zoning change would impact the quiet character of his neighborhood. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the current residential atmosphere.

JoAnne Ellington 1:00 also spoke against the proposed development, raising specific concerns about potential negative effects on local property values and neighborhood safety. She argued that the zoning change could compromise the well-being of current residents.

Both speakers focused their comments on opposing the same zoning proposal, presenting a unified neighborhood perspective on the potential impacts of the proposed changes to their community.

Appointments

The meeting addressed two personnel appointments within the Division of Streets and Roads.

Appointments Made:

• Michael Thomas was appointed to the position of Project Manager Sr., Div. of Streets and Roads

• Gary Robertson was appointed to the position of Equipment Operator Sr., Div. of Streets and Roads

Both appointments were approved during the meeting, filling key operational roles within the city's street maintenance and infrastructure division.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that drew substantial community opposition.

Zoning Change for Harrodsburg Road

A proposed zoning change for property on Harrodsburg Road faced strong resistance from area residents during the public comment period. Community members voiced concerns about two primary issues: the potential for increased traffic congestion in the area and the impact such changes would have on the established character of their neighborhood.

Multiple residents spoke against the zoning modification, expressing worry that the proposed changes would fundamentally alter the nature of their community. The opposition centered on traffic-related concerns, with speakers indicating that additional development permitted under the new zoning classification would bring more vehicles to roads they felt were already at capacity.

Neighborhood character preservation emerged as the second major point of contention. Residents argued that the zoning change would allow development incompatible with the existing residential and commercial mix that currently defines the Harrodsburg Road corridor.

The structured opposition from community members demonstrated organized resistance to the proposal, though the specific outcome of this contested item was not clearly documented in the available meeting materials. The level of community engagement on this issue suggests it was a significant concern for residents in the affected area.

This zoning dispute represents a common tension in municipal governance between development interests and existing community preservation, with residents mobilizing to protect what they view as the established character and livability of their neighborhood.

Read Y'all Presentation

2:00

The council received a presentation regarding agenda item 0377-18, a proclamation declaring June and July 2018 as Summer Reading Months in Lexington. The presentation emphasized the importance of summer learning programs in preventing educational setbacks during school breaks.

Mayor Gray and Anne Hammond served as the key speakers for this agenda item. The proclamation highlighted the critical role that continued reading and learning activities play during the summer months when students are away from formal classroom instruction.

The presentation focused on the "Read Y'all" initiative, which aims to encourage reading participation throughout the community during the designated summer months. The proclamation recognizes the documented benefits of maintaining educational engagement during summer break, particularly in preventing the "summer slide" phenomenon where students can lose academic progress made during the school year.

This was an informational presentation with no formal action required from the council beyond receiving the proclamation. The item served to officially recognize and promote summer reading activities as a community priority for June and July 2018.

The proclamation aligns with broader educational initiatives aimed at supporting year-round learning opportunities for Lexington residents, particularly students who benefit from structured reading programs during summer vacation periods.

Recognition of Lexington Legends

2:00

Mayor Gray presented agenda item 0465-18 to recognize the Lexington Legends for their outstanding community service contributions. The presentation highlighted the team's commitment to serving the Lexington community beyond their athletic responsibilities.

During the ceremony, Mayor Gray awarded the Lexington Legends the Spirit of Lexington award, acknowledging their dedication to local community initiatives and charitable work. Andy Shea participated in the recognition proceedings alongside the Mayor.

The presentation was informational in nature, serving to formally acknowledge the team's community service efforts and present them with the municipal recognition. No debate or discussion occurred regarding this agenda item, as it was a ceremonial presentation to honor the Lexington Legends' contributions to the city.

The recognition concluded with the formal presentation of the Spirit of Lexington award to the team representatives present at the meeting.