Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on February 21, 2019, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed two main agenda items and included both informational presentations and official council business. The council heard an informational presentation from the KAWC Science Fair and took action on Civil Service Appointments, which were approved. During the session, the council conducted 2 votes and received 2 public comments from community members.

Attendance

The following members were present at the February 21, 2019 meeting:

• Mossotti
• Plomin
• Reynolds
• Worley
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Ellinger
• Evans
• Farmer
• Gibbs
• Kay
• Lamb
• McCurn
• Moloney

All 15 members were in attendance. No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting.

Ordinance 0113-19 3:00 The council voted on an ordinance changing the zoning from Single Family Residential (R-1C) to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) for property located at 1847 Nicholasville Road. Council member Mossotti made the motion, seconded by Plomin. The ordinance passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays.

Voting in favor: Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

Resolution 0121-19 6:00 The council considered a resolution imposing a moratorium on zone map amendment applications and demolition permits for all properties within the proposed Pensacola Park Area Historic Districts. Council member Gibbs made the motion, seconded by Plomin. The resolution failed with 4 ayes and 8 nays.

Voting in favor: Mossotti, Bledsoe, F. Brown, and Farmer.

Voting against: Plomin, Reynolds, J. Brown, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

The zoning change for the Nicholasville Road property received full council support, while the historic district moratorium lacked sufficient votes to pass, with twice as many council members opposing the measure as supporting it.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two financial resolutions involving municipal purchases and services.

Wastewater Treatment Equipment Purchase

The council considered Resolution 0077-19 for the purchase of a chlorine gas feeder for the Town Branch Waste Water Treatment Plant. The equipment purchase from JAGS Environmental, Inc. totals $20,858.44. This acquisition represents infrastructure investment in the city's wastewater treatment capabilities.

Senior Program Catering Contract

Resolution 0090-19 authorized a catering services contract with Hyatt Regency Lexington for the Senior Intern Alumni Luncheon. The contract amount is $5,500 for the event catering services.

The two resolutions combined represent $26,358.44 in municipal expenditures, covering both essential infrastructure equipment and community programming services.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the council during the public comment period, both focusing on the Pensacola Park Moratorium.

Jacob Wahlburn 2:00 spoke in opposition to the moratorium, emphasizing concerns about property rights and the importance of allowing development to proceed along Nicholasville Road. Wahlburn argued that the moratorium would negatively impact property owners' ability to develop their land in the area.

Jessica Voigt 4:00 presented a contrasting viewpoint, voicing support for including Nicholasville Road properties within the scope of the moratorium. Voigt highlighted the historical significance of the area as a key reason for supporting the development restrictions, arguing that preserving the historical value should take precedence over new development.

The public comments reflected a clear divide on the moratorium issue, with speakers presenting opposing perspectives on balancing property development rights against historical preservation concerns in the Pensacola Park area.

Appointments

The meeting included two appointments to advisory boards within the local government structure.

Agricultural Extension District Board • Linda Gorton was appointed to serve on the Agricultural Extension District Board

Animal Care and Control Advisory Board • Josh McCurn was appointed to serve on the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board

Both appointments were approved during the February 21, 2019 meeting. The Agricultural Extension District Board typically oversees programs and services related to agricultural education and outreach in the community. The Animal Care and Control Advisory Board provides guidance on policies and procedures related to animal welfare and control services.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this portion of the meeting.*

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the February 21, 2019 meeting was the Pensacola Park Moratorium, which generated significant community debate and public input.

The disagreement centered on a proposed moratorium that would temporarily halt zone map amendments and demolition permits within the Pensacola Park area. The most contentious aspect of the discussion involved whether properties along Nicholasville Road should be included within the moratorium boundaries.

Community members were divided on this issue, with substantial public input presented both supporting and opposing the inclusion of Nicholasville Road properties in the moratorium. Those in favor of inclusion argued for broader protective measures, while opponents raised concerns about the expanded scope affecting additional properties and property owners along the corridor.

The nature of the opposition was characterized as community-based, indicating that local residents and stakeholders were actively engaged in the debate rather than it being primarily a technical or procedural disagreement among officials.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps, participant names, and the final outcome of this contested item are not available in the provided meeting data.*

KAWC Science Fair Presentation

1:00

Mayor Gorton presented the results of the Kentucky American Water Company Science Fair, announcing the winners of the competition. The science fair drew participation from over 500 students, demonstrating significant community engagement in STEM education initiatives.

The presentation was informational in nature, with Mayor Gorton highlighting the success of the event and recognizing the student participants and winners. The Kentucky American Water Company Science Fair represents a partnership between the utility company and local educational institutions to promote science education among students in the community.

No discussion or debate occurred during this agenda item, as it served as a ceremonial announcement of the competition results. The presentation concluded without any formal action required from the council.

Civil Service Appointments

7:00

The board considered Resolution 0142-19 regarding the ratification of various civil service appointments across different divisions. Maxwell presented this agenda item to the board for approval.

The resolution sought formal ratification of multiple civil service appointments that had been made across various municipal divisions. While the specific details of individual appointments and divisions were not elaborated upon in the available materials, this represents standard administrative procedure for confirming personnel decisions made within the civil service system.

Maxwell presented the appointments for board consideration without noted discussion or debate from other board members. No concerns were raised regarding any of the proposed appointments during the proceedings.

The board approved Resolution 0142-19, formally ratifying the civil service appointments as presented. This approval allows the appointed individuals to proceed in their respective positions within the municipal government structure.