Urban County Council - 1st Reading of the Budget

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on June 7, 2018, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding. The meeting addressed two main agenda items, including a recognition ceremony for Steve Polston and consideration of budget amendments for municipal expenditures.

During the session, the Council conducted two formal votes and heard from two members of the public during the public comment period. The primary legislative business involved approving amendments to budgets for municipal expenditures, which was successfully passed by the Council. The meeting also featured an informational presentation recognizing Steve Polston for his contributions to the community.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on June 7, 2018:

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

All members were in attendance with no absences or late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the meeting, both passing unanimously.

Ordinance 0551-18 10:00 Mr. Farmer motioned to approve Ordinance 0551-18, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures, and appropriates and re-appropriates funds under Schedule No. 41. Vice Mayor Kay seconded the motion. The ordinance passed by roll call vote with 15 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Smith, Stinnett, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, and Henson.

Resolution 0596-18 20:00 Ms. Plomin motioned to approve Resolution 0596-18, accepting the bid of Herrick Co., Inc., for the Horse Park Pump Station Generator. Vice Mayor Kay seconded the motion. The resolution passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Smith, Stinnett, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, and Henson.

Both votes demonstrated full council support, with no opposition or abstentions recorded on either item.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed one significant financial action involving infrastructure improvements.

The council considered Resolution 0596-18, which authorizes a contract with Herrick Co., Inc. for the Horse Park Pump Station Generator project. The contract amount is $146,000 and involves the installation or replacement of generator equipment at the Horse Park Pump Station facility.

This expenditure represents a substantial investment in the city's water infrastructure, ensuring reliable backup power capabilities for the pump station operations. The resolution required council approval due to the significant contract value exceeding standard administrative authorization limits.

Public Comment

Two community members addressed the council during the public comment period.

Mike Winkler spoke about water quality violations and concerns regarding the water quality department's response 120:00. Winkler raised issues about debris and concrete located near a creek, expressing dissatisfaction with how the water quality department had handled these environmental concerns.

Gina Doherty addressed the council regarding cannabis policy reform 130:00. Doherty advocated for the decriminalization of cannabis, emphasizing the impact current policies have on the community. She urged the council to consider making changes to existing cannabis-related ordinances and enforcement practices.

Both speakers used their allotted time to bring forward community concerns spanning environmental protection and criminal justice policy reform.

Appointments

The council took action on two reappointments to city boards during the meeting.

Address Enforcement Administrative Hearing Board • Michael Graves was reappointed to the Address Enforcement Administrative Hearing Board

Alarm Advisory Board • April Brown was reappointed to the Alarm Advisory Board

Both appointments involved reappointing existing members to continue their service on their respective boards. No additional details about the terms of service or voting results were provided in the available meeting materials.

Recognition of Steve Polston

5:00

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government recognized Steve Polston for his extensive community service supporting the homeless population in Lexington during agenda item 0639-18.

Mayor Gray presented the recognition, highlighting Polston's significant contributions to addressing homelessness in the community. Polston's work has focused on two key initiatives: his involvement with the New Life Day Center and his support of the panhandling van program.

The New Life Day Center serves as a crucial resource for individuals experiencing homelessness, providing services and support to help people transition to more stable living situations. Polston's dedication to this facility has helped expand its capacity to serve the community's most vulnerable residents.

Additionally, Polston has been instrumental in supporting the panhandling van initiative, which represents an innovative approach to addressing street-level homelessness and connecting individuals with appropriate services and resources.

Steve Polston accepted the recognition and briefly addressed the council about his community work. His efforts demonstrate the impact that dedicated community members can have in addressing complex social issues like homelessness.

This recognition was presented as an informational item, celebrating Polston's volunteer service and commitment to improving conditions for homeless individuals in Lexington. The acknowledgment highlights the city's appreciation for citizens who take active roles in addressing community challenges and supporting vulnerable populations through direct service and advocacy.

Amending Budgets for Municipal Expenditures

10:00

The Council considered Ordinance 0551-18, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriates and re-appropriates funds accordingly.

Mr. Farmer presented the ordinance, explaining the need to adjust various municipal budget allocations to meet current operational requirements. The ordinance involves both appropriating new funds and re-appropriating existing funds across different municipal expenditure categories.

Vice Mayor Kay participated in the discussion of the budget amendments, though the specific details of any concerns or questions raised were not detailed in the available materials.

The ordinance represents routine budget management necessary to ensure municipal operations can continue effectively within the fiscal framework. Such budget amendments are typically required when actual expenditure needs differ from original budget projections or when priorities shift during the fiscal year.

The Council approved Ordinance 0551-18, allowing the budget amendments to take effect and ensuring continued funding for municipal expenditures as outlined in the ordinance.