Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on May 16, 2019, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The council addressed five agenda items during the session, focusing primarily on budget amendments and administrative matters. Four items were approved, including the minutes from previous meetings on April 25 and May 2, 2019, multiple budget amendments for municipal expenditures and police funds, and changes to the classified civil service authorized strength. One additional budget amendment for municipal expenditures received its first reading. The council conducted five votes throughout the meeting, with no public comments recorded during the session.

Attendance

The following members were present at the May 16, 2019 meeting:

Present (14 members): • J. Brown • Ellinger • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs • Kay • Lamb • McCurn • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Reynolds • Bledsoe • F. Brown

Absent (1 member): • Worley

Late arrivals: • None

A total of 14 members were in attendance, with one member absent. No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted five votes during the May 16, 2019 meeting, all of which passed unanimously with 14 members present.

Motion 0539-19 2:30 - Farmer motioned to approve the minutes from the April 25, 2019 and May 2, 2019 Council meetings, seconded by Ellinger. The motion passed unanimously 14-0.

Motion 0494-19 6:00 - Ellinger motioned to amend certain budgets for municipal expenditures under Schedule No. 26, seconded by Farmer. The motion passed by roll call vote 14-0, with all members voting in favor: J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

Motion 0495-19 6:00 - Ellinger motioned to amend budgets for funds in the amount of $800 for the Division of Police from Neighborhood Development Funds under Schedule No. 27, seconded by Farmer. The motion passed by roll call vote 14-0, with the same 14 members voting in favor.

Motion 0459-19 6:00 - Ellinger motioned to amend the Classified Civil Service authorized strength by reallocating positions within the Division of Aging and Disability Services, seconded by Farmer. The motion passed by roll call vote 14-0, with all 14 members voting in favor.

Motion 0558-19 12:00 - Bledsoe motioned to amend certain budgets for municipal expenditures under Schedule No. 28, seconded by J. Brown. The motion was amended to add Budget Journals 116801 and 116802 before passing unanimously 14-0.

All votes demonstrated complete Council consensus on the administrative and budgetary matters addressed during the meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several significant financial items totaling nearly $1 million in contracts and grant applications.

Service Agreements and Contracts

The council considered Resolution 0355-19, approving service agreements with Granicus, Inc., for legislative management software and hardware totaling $53,148. This contract covers technology infrastructure to support the council's legislative operations.

Additionally, Resolution 0438-19 was presented for a professional services contract with Resource Recycling Systems valued at $24,855. This agreement relates to services for the Material Recovery Facility, supporting the municipality's waste management and recycling operations.

Grant Applications

The council reviewed a substantial grant application to the United States Department of Justice under the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-Based Program. The application seeks $900,000 in federal funding to address opioid abuse issues within the community. This represents the largest financial item discussed during the meeting and would provide significant resources for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs if awarded.

Financial Summary

The combined value of the contracts and grant application totaled $977,003, with the majority ($900,000) representing potential federal grant funding. The two approved contracts for Granicus, Inc., and Resource Recycling Systems represent direct municipal expenditures of $78,003 for technology and waste management services respectively.

These financial actions demonstrate the council's focus on both operational needs through technology and waste management contracts, as well as community health initiatives through the substantial federal grant application for opioid abuse programs.

Amending Budgets for Municipal Expenditures

6:00

The council considered Ordinance 0494-19, which proposed amendments to the municipal budget to reflect current requirements for expenditures under Schedule No. 26.

Key speakers during the discussion included Ellinger and Farmer, who addressed the proposed budget amendments and their implications for municipal operations.

The ordinance was designed to align the city's budget with updated expenditure requirements, ensuring that municipal spending allocations accurately reflect current operational needs and obligations.

Following discussion by the council members, Ordinance 0494-19 was approved, allowing the budget amendments to take effect and providing the necessary adjustments to municipal expenditure categories as outlined in Schedule No. 26.

Amending Budgets for Police Funds

6:00

The council considered Ordinance 0495-19, which proposed amending the police budget to allocate $800 from Neighborhood Development Funds specifically for the Division of Police's D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program under Schedule No. 27.

Council members Ellinger and Farmer were the key speakers during the discussion of this budget amendment. The ordinance represented a targeted funding allocation to support the police department's drug education and prevention programming in the community.

The $800 allocation from Neighborhood Development Funds would provide dedicated resources for the D.A.R.E. program, which focuses on drug abuse resistance education typically delivered in schools and community settings. This funding mechanism demonstrates the city's commitment to preventive law enforcement approaches and community-based drug education initiatives.

The council ultimately approved Ordinance 0495-19, authorizing the budget amendment and the transfer of funds to support the Division of Police's D.A.R.E. program operations.

Amending Budgets for Municipal Expenditures

12:00

The council considered Ordinance 0558-19, which proposes amendments to municipal expenditure budgets under Schedule No. 28. The ordinance aims to adjust current budget allocations to reflect updated requirements for municipal spending.

Key speakers during the discussion included Bledsoe and J. Brown, who presented the proposed budget amendments to the council. The ordinance represents a routine budgetary adjustment designed to align spending authorizations with current municipal needs and requirements.

The item was presented for first reading, indicating this was the initial formal consideration of the proposed budget amendments. As a first reading, the ordinance will require additional review and voting in subsequent meetings before final adoption.

The discussion focused on Schedule No. 28 specifically, though the extracted data does not include details about the specific expenditure categories or dollar amounts involved in the proposed amendments. The ordinance follows standard municipal budget amendment procedures to ensure proper authorization for adjusted spending levels.

The council completed the first reading of Ordinance 0558-19 without apparent opposition, allowing the budget amendment proposal to advance through the legislative process. Further review and potential adoption will occur at future council meetings as the ordinance proceeds through the required readings.