Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on March 21, 2019, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gorton presiding. This meeting focused primarily on recognizing community achievements, with two informational agenda items dedicated to honoring local accomplishments. The council heard recognition presentations for the LCA Cheer team and Charlie Martin, both serving as informational items to celebrate their contributions to the community.

During the session, the council conducted 2 votes on various matters and received 2 public comments from community members. The meeting's agenda was relatively brief with 2 total agenda items, both centered on community recognition rather than legislative business. The recognition items for LCA Cheer and Charlie Martin were presented as informational matters, highlighting the council's commitment to acknowledging local achievements and community service.

Attendance

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

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

Absent: • Worley • Plomin

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the March 21, 2019 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 0173-19 2:00 Council member Ellinger motioned to approve an ordinance changing the zoning from Single Family Residential (R-1C) to Townhouse Residential (R-1T) for property located at 375 Pasadena Dr. The motion was seconded by Kay. The measure passed by roll call vote with 13 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Reynolds, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, Moloney, and Mossotti.

Resolution 0245-19 9:00 J. Brown motioned to approve a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute Change Order No. Four (4) to the Contract with Lagco, Inc. Bledsoe seconded the motion. The resolution passed unanimously with all 13 council members voting in favor: Reynolds, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, Moloney, and Mossotti.

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

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts totaling $243,000 for municipal infrastructure and facilities projects.

Government Center Building Envelope Evaluation The council approved Resolution 0176-19, authorizing a $64,000 contract with EOP Architects for design services related to the Government Center Building Envelope Evaluation Services. This contract will provide professional architectural services to assess and design improvements to the building's exterior envelope systems.

Thompson Road Park Renovation Resolution 0262-19 was approved, establishing a $179,000 contract with Omni Commercial, LLC for the renovation of Thompson Road Park. This represents the larger of the two financial commitments and will fund improvements to the municipal park facility.

The combined $243,000 in approved contracts demonstrates the municipality's investment in both maintaining critical government infrastructure and enhancing public recreational facilities for residents.

Public Comment

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

Carol Montague Price, Jr. spoke about affordable housing for students with disabilities 13:00. Price emphasized the critical need for better housing options specifically designed for students with disabilities. Additionally, Price advocated for increasing the number of social workers on campuses to provide adequate support and assistance to these students.

J.R. Williamson addressed concerns regarding a landfill contract 14:00. Williamson urged the council to reconsider the contract with the Central Kentucky Landfill, citing the facility's history of mismanagement and environmental issues as reasons for reconsidering the agreement.

The public comment period covered two distinct areas of community concern: accessibility and support services for disabled students, and environmental oversight of waste management contracts.

Appointments

The meeting included two appointments to local boards and commissions.

Airport Board • Richard Moloney was appointed to the Airport Board

Black and Williams Neighborhood Community Center Board • Sharonda Steele was appointed to the Black and Williams Neighborhood Community Center Board

Both appointments were approved during the meeting proceedings.

Contested Items

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

Television and Digital Media Advertising for Stormwater and Water Quality Education

The council considered a resolution to purchase advertising services from WKYT-TV for stormwater and water quality education purposes. This item generated disagreement among council members, resulting in a divided vote rather than the unanimous approval typical of many routine agenda items.

The resolution ultimately passed despite the opposition, with one council member voting against the measure while the remaining members supported it. The specific reasons for the dissenting vote were not detailed in the available meeting materials, nor were the identities of the council members who voted for or against the proposal.

The advertising purchase appears to be part of the city's broader public education efforts regarding stormwater management and water quality issues, which are typically mandated by federal and state environmental regulations. Such educational campaigns are common requirements for municipalities to maintain compliance with their stormwater discharge permits.

While the resolution passed and the advertising services will proceed as planned, the split vote indicates some level of concern or disagreement among council members about either the specific vendor selection, the cost of the advertising, the approach to public education, or other aspects of the proposal that were not captured in the meeting summary.

Recognition - LCA Cheer

1:00

Mayor Gorton presented a recognition to the Lexington Christian Academy Cheerleading Squad for their outstanding achievement in winning the Universal Cheerleading Association's National Championship. The recognition was designated as agenda item 0213-19.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton acknowledged the team's exceptional performance and dedication that led to their national title. Coach Brittany Bailey was present to represent the cheerleading squad and accept the recognition on behalf of the team.

The recognition served as an informational presentation to highlight the accomplishments of local student athletes and celebrate their success at the national level. The Universal Cheerleading Association's National Championship represents a significant achievement in competitive cheerleading, demonstrating the high level of skill and teamwork exhibited by the Lexington Christian Academy squad.

This agenda item was purely ceremonial in nature, with no formal action required from the governing body. The recognition provided an opportunity for the community to celebrate the achievements of local students and acknowledge their representation of the area on a national stage.

Recognition - Charlie Martin

3:00

Mayor Gorton presented a proclamation recognizing Charlie Martin for his significant contributions to Lexington's environmental health initiatives. The proclamation officially declared March 21, 2019, as Charlie Martin Day in the city.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton highlighted Martin's dedicated service and impact on the community's environmental programs. Charlie Martin was present to receive the recognition and acknowledgment of his work.

This agenda item (0309-19) served as an informational proclamation with no formal action required from the council. The recognition ceremony provided an opportunity for the city to publicly honor Martin's environmental health contributions to Lexington.