Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on June 20, 2019, at 6:09 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The meeting addressed two primary agenda items, including the approval of minutes from the previous council meeting and a special recognition ceremony for the Lexington Fire Department.

During the session, the council conducted 2 votes on various matters before them. The meeting also included 2 public comments, providing community members an opportunity to address the council directly. The council successfully approved the minutes from their June 6, 2019 meeting, maintaining their official record-keeping responsibilities. Additionally, the session featured an informational presentation recognizing the Lexington Fire Department for their service to the community, highlighting the council's commitment to acknowledging the contributions of local public safety personnel.

Attendance

The following members were present at the June 20, 2019 meeting:

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

Absent: Worley

Late arrivals: None

Note: The attendance records show Worley listed in both the present and absent categories. This may indicate Worley arrived after the initial roll call or left during the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted roll call votes on two ordinances during the meeting.

Ordinance 0642-19 3:00 Vice Mayor Kay motioned to approve an ordinance amending Section 18-148 of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Code of Ordinances to allow electric bicycles and electric motor-assisted scooters on bicycle paths. Ms. Evans seconded the motion. The ordinance passed with 14 ayes and 1 nay.

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

Voting against: Plomin.

Ordinance 0643-19 4:00 Vice Mayor Kay motioned to approve an ordinance appropriating the revenues, expenditures/expenses and interfund transfers for various funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. Ms. Evans seconded the motion. The ordinance passed with 14 ayes and 1 nay.

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

Voting against: Moloney.

Both ordinances received the necessary votes to pass, with different council members casting the sole dissenting vote on each measure.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial matters involving contracts and grant applications totaling over $800,000.

Homelessness Prevention Contract The council considered Resolution 0497-19, which establishes an agreement with the Kentucky Housing Corporation valued at $24,000. This contract supports the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention's participation in the Kentucky Homeless Management Information System. The agreement enables the local office to maintain its role in the statewide data management system for tracking and coordinating homelessness services.

Emergency Preparedness Grant Application Resolution 0528-19 authorizes a grant application to the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs for $779,200 under the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. This substantial funding request would support emergency preparedness initiatives related to chemical stockpile management and response capabilities.

The two financial actions represent different funding mechanisms - one involving a direct service contract with a state housing agency, and the other seeking federal grant funds administered through the state's military affairs department for emergency preparedness purposes. Combined, these items account for $803,200 in financial commitments and potential funding for county operations.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the board during the public comment period of the June 20, 2019 meeting.

Bernard McCarthy spoke about road infrastructure needs, specifically requesting resurfacing of Fourth Street from Broadway to the L & N railroad track. McCarthy cited the bumpy condition of the roadway as the reason for his request. 2:00:00

Shauna Connors raised concerns about parking availability in the downtown area. She expressed that insufficient public parking is negatively affecting downtown businesses and suggested the need for additional public parking solutions to address the issue. 2:03:00

Both comments focused on infrastructure and municipal services that directly impact residents and local businesses in the community.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments and reappointments to city boards and commissions.

Board of Adjustment: • Philip Brandon Gross was reappointed to the Board of Adjustment • Chad Needham was reappointed to the Board of Adjustment

Economic Development Investment Board: • Brian Wells was reappointed to the Economic Development Investment Board • Liz Brown was appointed to the Economic Development Investment Board • Jake Gibbs was appointed to the Economic Development Investment Board

The appointments included both new members and continuing members across these two municipal boards. The Board of Adjustment retained two existing members through reappointments, while the Economic Development Investment Board saw one reappointment and two new appointments.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that generated opposition among council members.

Electric Bicycles and Scooters Ordinance

An ordinance addressing the use of electric bicycles and scooters on bicycle paths came before the council and resulted in a split vote. The measure, which would allow electric bicycles and scooters to operate on designated bicycle paths, passed with a 14-1 vote, indicating that one council member opposed the proposal while the majority supported it.

The nature of the specific disagreement and the identity of the dissenting council member were not detailed in the available meeting materials. However, the near-unanimous passage suggests that while there was some opposition to allowing these electric vehicles on bicycle paths, the majority of the council viewed the ordinance favorably.

The final outcome was the approval of the ordinance, establishing new regulations that permit electric bicycles and scooters to use bicycle path infrastructure within the jurisdiction.

Minutes of the June 6, 2019 Council Meeting

0:10

The council considered agenda item 0684-19, which involved the approval of minutes from the June 6, 2019 council meeting. This routine administrative matter required council review and formal approval of the official record from the previous meeting.

Key speakers during this agenda item included Mr. Ellinger and Ms. Plomin, who participated in the discussion regarding the accuracy and completeness of the meeting minutes.

The minutes were presented for council consideration as part of the standard procedural process to ensure the official record of municipal proceedings is properly documented and approved. This administrative step allows council members to review the written record of discussions, motions, and votes from the previous meeting to verify accuracy before formal adoption.

The agenda item was approved by the council, completing the procedural requirement for official adoption of the June 6, 2019 meeting minutes into the municipal record.

Special Recognition of Lexington Fire Department

0:20

The Lexington City Council recognized members of the Lexington Fire Department for their participation in a rescue operation in Powell County. Agenda item 0697-19 served as a special presentation to honor the firefighters' service beyond city limits.

Mayor Gorton and Fire Chief Chilton were the key speakers during this recognition ceremony. The presentation highlighted the department's involvement in a rescue operation that took place in Powell County, demonstrating the firefighters' commitment to public safety that extends beyond Lexington's municipal boundaries.

This was an informational item that provided the council and public with details about the firefighters' heroic actions during the Powell County rescue operation. The recognition served to formally acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of the Lexington Fire Department personnel who participated in the emergency response.

No formal action was required for this agenda item, as it was presented solely for recognition and informational purposes. The presentation allowed city leadership to publicly commend the fire department's service and highlight their ongoing commitment to emergency response both within and outside the city limits.