Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on March 7, 2019, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting focused primarily on informational presentations and community recognition, with two main agenda items addressing local organizations and services. The council heard presentations on the American Legion's 100th Anniversary and recognized Arbor Youth Safe Place for their community contributions.

During the session, the council conducted 2 votes on various matters and received 3 public comments from community members. Both primary agenda items were informational in nature, serving to acknowledge and celebrate community organizations rather than requiring legislative action. The meeting provided a platform for recognizing the historical significance of the American Legion's centennial milestone and highlighting the important work of Arbor Youth Safe Place in supporting local youth services.

Attendance

The meeting on March 7, 2019 had strong attendance with 15 members present and no absences recorded.

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

Absent: None

Late Arrivals: • Kay • Mossotti • Plomin

Three members arrived late to the meeting but were present for the proceedings. All scheduled members ultimately participated in the session.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the meeting, both involving roll call votes.

Ordinance 0174-19 6:36 Vice Mayor Kay motioned to approve an ordinance changing the zoning from Agricultural Rural (A-R) to Light Industrial (I-1) for property located at 5301 Athens Boonesboro Road. Mr. Ellinger seconded the motion. The ordinance passed unanimously with 15 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, Moloney, and Mossotti.

Resolution 0121-19 6:36 Vice Mayor Kay also motioned on a resolution imposing a moratorium on zone map amendment applications and demolition permits for all properties within the proposed Pensacola Park Area Historic Districts. Ms. Plomin seconded the motion. This resolution passed with 8 ayes, 3 nays, and 3 abstentions.

Council members voting in favor were: Plomin, Reynolds, J. Brown, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

Three members voted against the resolution: F. Brown, Farmer, and Mossotti.

The remaining council members abstained from voting, though their names were not specified in the vote tally.

The moratorium resolution received less unanimous support than the zoning change, reflecting potential disagreement among council members regarding the historic district protections and their impact on property development rights in the Pensacola Park area.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial items totaling over $845,000 in contracts and grant funding.

Wastewater Infrastructure Contract Resolution 0100-19 authorized a contract with Judy Construction Co. for $53,958.58 to complete the Town Branch Waste Water Treatment Plant Primary Digester Complex Improvements Project. This contract represents ongoing infrastructure improvements to the city's wastewater treatment facilities.

Design Services Contract Resolution 0107-19 approved additional design services with Gresham, Smith and Partners for $8,164.00 related to the Town Branch Commons Corridor Design Services. This contract amendment provides supplementary planning and design work for the corridor development project.

Transportation Planning Grant Resolution 0123-19 accepted a substantial grant of $783,576 from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for FY 2020 Transportation Planning Activities. This grant funding will support the city's transportation planning initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year, representing the largest financial item considered during the meeting.

The three resolutions collectively represent both capital infrastructure investments and planning activities, with the transportation grant comprising approximately 90% of the total financial commitments discussed. The wastewater treatment plant improvements and corridor design services reflect ongoing municipal infrastructure development projects.

Public Comment

Three community members addressed the council during the public comment period, all focusing on concerns about police accountability and conduct.

Sarah Williams 2:00:00 spoke about police accountability issues related to the department's collective bargaining agreement. Williams expressed concerns about what she characterized as a lack of accountability within the police department's current collective bargaining structure. She specifically called for the termination of Officer Donovan Stewart following an incident involving an autistic teenager.

Winter Sherman 2:09:00 addressed the council as an autistic individual speaking against police brutality. Sherman focused on the same incident involving an autistic teenager that Williams referenced, urging the council to take action to hold the police department accountable for the incident. Sherman's comments highlighted concerns about how law enforcement interacts with individuals in the autism community.

April Taylor 2:12:00 shared personal experiences with the police department, addressing broader systemic issues within the police force. Taylor specifically mentioned problems with racial misidentification during police interactions and described what she viewed as systemic problems affecting the department's operations and community relations.

All three speakers focused their comments on police-related issues, with particular emphasis on accountability measures and the treatment of vulnerable community members. The comments centered around a specific incident involving an autistic teenager and Officer Donovan Stewart, as well as broader concerns about police practices and oversight within the department.

Appointments

The meeting included three appointments to various boards and advisory bodies.

Zachary Newman was appointed to the Address Enforcement Hearing Board.

Jennifer Kane was appointed to the Carnegie Center for Literacy Board of Directors.

Jonathan Washington was appointed to the Charles Young Center Advisory Board.

All three appointments were approved during the March 7, 2019 meeting.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

Moratorium on Zone Map Amendment Applications

The primary point of contention involved a resolution to impose a moratorium on zone map amendment applications specifically for the Pensacola Park Area Historic Districts. This measure would temporarily halt new applications for zoning changes within these designated historic areas.

The proposal generated differing opinions among council members, though the specific nature of their disagreements and individual positions are not detailed in the available meeting records. The resolution ultimately passed despite the division, indicating that a majority of council members supported implementing the temporary restriction on zoning amendment applications.

The split vote demonstrates that council members had varying perspectives on whether such a moratorium was necessary or appropriate for the Pensacola Park Area Historic Districts at this time. The passage of the resolution means that property owners and developers in these historic districts will face temporary restrictions on their ability to seek zoning changes during the moratorium period.

The outcome establishes a temporary pause on zone map amendment applications for the affected historic districts, though the duration and specific terms of the moratorium would need to be referenced in the full resolution text.

American Legion 100th Anniversary

0:15

Mayor Gorton presented agenda item 0154-19, recognizing the American Legion's 100th anniversary during the March 7, 2019 meeting. The Mayor formally acknowledged this significant milestone for the veterans' organization, which was founded in 1919.

As part of the recognition, Mayor Gorton presented an official proclamation declaring March 2019 as American Legion Month in Lexington. This proclamation honors the century of service that the American Legion has provided to veterans and communities across the nation.

The presentation was informational in nature, serving to formally recognize the American Legion's contributions and ensure the organization's centennial anniversary received appropriate municipal acknowledgment. No discussion or debate occurred regarding this agenda item, as it was a ceremonial recognition of the veterans' organization's historic milestone.

Arbor Youth Safe Place Recognition

0:30

Mayor Gorton presented agenda item 0284-19, recognizing Arbor Youth Services for their critical work serving Lexington's vulnerable youth population. The presentation highlighted Arbor Youth Services' role as the city's only emergency shelter specifically dedicated to homeless and runaway children.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton formally declared March 17-23, 2019, as National Safe Place Week in Lexington, acknowledging the organization's ongoing commitment to providing safe haven for youth in crisis situations. The recognition emphasized the vital services Arbor Youth provides to children who have nowhere else to turn when facing homelessness or dangerous situations at home.

Lori Clemons participated in the presentation, representing Arbor Youth Services and their mission to protect and support at-risk youth in the community. The organization operates as part of the national Safe Place network, which provides immediate help and safety for young people through a network of sites staffed by trained volunteers and employees.

This agenda item served as an informational presentation to raise awareness about both Arbor Youth Services' work and the broader National Safe Place Week observance. The recognition underscored the city's support for organizations addressing youth homelessness and the importance of having dedicated emergency shelter resources available for children and teenagers in crisis.

The presentation concluded without formal action required, as it was purely ceremonial in nature, focusing on public recognition of Arbor Youth Services' contributions to community safety and youth welfare.