Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on July 5, 2018, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gray presiding. The council addressed three main agenda items during the session, all of which were approved. The meeting included consideration of budget amendments for fiscal year 2019, a memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and an agreement with Applied Research Associates, Inc. The council took three votes during the proceedings and heard from four members of the public during the public comment period.

Attendance

The following members were present at the July 5, 2018 meeting:

• Stinnett
• Worley
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Evans
• Farmer
• Gibbs
• Henson
• Kay
• Lamb
• Moloney
• Mossotti
• Plomin

Absent: • Smith

No members arrived late to the meeting.

A total of 14 members were present and 1 member was absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted three roll call votes during the July 5, 2018 meeting, with all measures passing.

Ordinance 0758-18 2:00 - Amending certain budgets for FY 2019 Schedule No.1 was motioned by Vice Mayor Kay and seconded by Ms. Henson. The ordinance passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Stinnett, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, and Plomin.

Resolution 0729-18 1:30 - A memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth of Kentucky for Economic Development and Campus Pedestrian and Bike Safety Initiative was motioned by Mr. Stinnett and seconded by Vice Mayor Kay. The resolution passed with 13 ayes and 1 nay. Council members voting in favor were: Stinnett, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, and Plomin. Farmer cast the sole dissenting vote.

Resolution 0738-18 2:30 - An agreement with Applied Research Associates, Inc. for Pavement Management System update was motioned by Mr. Stinnett and seconded by Vice Mayor Kay. The resolution passed with 13 ayes and 1 nay. Council members voting in favor were: Stinnett, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Mossotti, and Plomin. Moloney cast the dissenting vote.

All three measures received strong majority support, with only single dissenting votes on the two resolutions while the budget amendment ordinance achieved unanimous approval.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial contracts totaling $529,754.61 across emergency management, infrastructure, and transportation planning initiatives.

Emergency Management Equipment Resolution 0368-18 authorized a contract with Advanced Eco Systems, Inc. for $27,550.65 to provide a Rapid Deployment Shelter for the Division of Emergency Management/911. This equipment purchase supports the county's emergency response capabilities.

Stormwater Infrastructure Resolution 0686-18 approved a contract with Woodall Construction Co., Inc. for $173,489.30 to complete the Wellington Stormwater Basin A Improvements. This infrastructure project addresses stormwater management needs in the Wellington area.

Transportation Planning The largest financial commitment came through Resolution 0738-18, which authorized a contract with Applied Research Associates, Inc. for $328,714.66 to update the Pavement Management System. This comprehensive system update will help the county better track and plan for road maintenance and improvements across its transportation network.

All three contracts represent ongoing investments in critical county infrastructure and services, spanning emergency preparedness, flood management, and transportation planning systems.

Public Comment

Four residents addressed the council during the public comment period, with concerns ranging from proposed land transactions to environmental and moral issues.

Amy Clark 0:30 spoke about the proposed land swap and road closures, urging the council to conduct proper due diligence and ensure accurate valuation of the assets involved in the transaction.

Mark Barker 1:00 expressed opposition to the land swap proposal, specifically citing concerns about increased traffic that would impact his neighborhood as a result of the proposed changes.

Don Pratt 13:00 addressed environmental and fiscal concerns, criticizing what he characterized as wasteful city spending on various projects. He advocated for the city to instead invest in solar panel installations as a more responsible use of public funds.

Gina Daugherty 14:00 made a moral and religious appeal to the council members, asking them to consider the spiritual implications and ethical dimensions of their decision-making processes.

The public comments focused primarily on the proposed land swap, with two speakers addressing different aspects of the issue - Clark emphasizing procedural concerns about proper valuation and due diligence, while Barker opposed the proposal based on anticipated traffic impacts to residential areas.

Contested Items

Two items on the July 5, 2018 agenda generated significant discussion and opposition during the meeting.

MOU with Commonwealth of Kentucky

The proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth of Kentucky faced substantial community opposition. Local residents expressed concerns about the potential impact of road closures and land swaps that would be part of the agreement. Community members voiced worries about how these changes would affect local traffic patterns and accessibility in their neighborhoods. The specific details of the opposition and the ultimate outcome of this resolution are not detailed in the available meeting records.

Agreement with Applied Research Associates, Inc.

The resolution to enter into an agreement with Applied Research Associates, Inc. revealed division among council members. While the measure ultimately passed, it did so with one dissenting vote, indicating that at least one council member had reservations about moving forward with this agreement. The nature of the disagreement among council members and the specific concerns raised by the dissenting member are not specified in the available documentation.

Both contested items highlight areas where either community input or council member perspectives created debate during the meeting process. The community opposition to the Commonwealth of Kentucky MOU demonstrates active citizen engagement on issues affecting local infrastructure and land use, while the split vote on the Applied Research Associates agreement shows that council members did not reach unanimous consensus on all business matters before them.

Amending Budgets for FY 2019 Schedule No.1

2:00

The council considered Ordinance 0758-18, which would amend certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures for Fiscal Year 2019.

Vice Mayor Kay and Ms. Henson served as the key speakers during the discussion of this budget amendment ordinance. The measure was designed to adjust various budget allocations to meet updated spending requirements for the upcoming fiscal year.

The ordinance was approved by the council, allowing the necessary budget modifications to take effect for FY 2019 operations.

MOU with Commonwealth of Ky.

1:30

The council considered Resolution 0729-18, which authorized a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth of Kentucky for an Economic Development and Campus Pedestrian and Bike Safety Initiative.

Mr. Stinnett and Vice Mayor Kay served as the key speakers during the discussion of this agenda item. The resolution focused on establishing a formal agreement between the local government and the state to advance both economic development goals and safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists in campus areas.

The memorandum of understanding represents a collaborative effort to address infrastructure and safety concerns while supporting broader economic development objectives within the community. The initiative specifically targets pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements in campus environments, suggesting coordination with local educational institutions.

The council approved Resolution 0729-18, formally authorizing the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This approval enables the local government to move forward with the partnership and begin implementing the Economic Development and Campus Pedestrian and Bike Safety Initiative as outlined in the agreement.

Agreement with Applied Research Associates, Inc.

2:30

The council considered Resolution 0738-18, which authorized an agreement with Applied Research Associates, Inc. for services related to updating the city's Pavement Management System.

Mr. Stinnett and Vice Mayor Kay were the key speakers during the discussion of this agenda item. The resolution focused on contracting with Applied Research Associates, Inc. to provide professional services for updating the municipality's existing Pavement Management System, which is used to assess road conditions and prioritize maintenance and repair projects.

The Pavement Management System update represents an important infrastructure planning tool that helps the city make data-driven decisions about road maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction priorities. Such systems typically involve comprehensive assessments of pavement conditions, analysis of deterioration patterns, and development of long-term maintenance strategies.

The council ultimately approved Resolution 0738-18, authorizing the agreement with Applied Research Associates, Inc. to proceed with the Pavement Management System update services. This approval will enable the city to move forward with modernizing its approach to pavement management and infrastructure planning.

The resolution's passage demonstrates the council's commitment to maintaining and improving the city's transportation infrastructure through systematic, professional assessment and planning processes.