Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on July 9, 2019, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed four agenda items, including one informational presentation and three items requiring council action. The council took four votes during the session and heard no public comments.

The meeting began with a recognition ceremony for Lextran Million Milers, acknowledging public transit riders who have achieved significant ridership milestones. The council then proceeded to consider three substantive matters requiring formal action: an amendment to the FY 2020 budget schedule, modifications to the Code of Ordinances related to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition, and the transfer of a civil service position. All three items brought before the council for a vote were approved.

Attendance

The following members were present at the July 9, 2019 meeting:

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

Absent: • F. Brown

Late: • Evans

A total of 15 members were present for the meeting, with one member absent and one member arriving late.

Votes and Decisions

The Council took action on four items during the July 9, 2019 meeting, with all measures passing unanimously.

Motion 0722-19 0:00 - The Council approved the minutes of the June 20, 2019 Council Meeting. The motion was made by Farmer and seconded by Ellinger. The vote passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays.

Motion 0742-19 1:00 - An ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures, and appropriating and re-appropriating funds for FY 2020 Schedule No. 1 was approved. Ellinger made the motion, seconded by Farmer. The roll call vote passed 14-0, with all Council members voting in favor: McCurn, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, and Lamb.

Motion 0682-19 1:30 - The Council passed an ordinance amending sections 2-250, 2-251, 2-253 and 2-256 of the Code of Ordinances to change the name to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition. Ellinger motioned and Farmer seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous 14-0, with the same 14 Council members voting in favor.

Motion 0708-19 2:00 - An ordinance amending the authorized strength by transferring one Classified Civil Service Position of Administrative Officer Sr., Grade 526E was approved. The motion by Ellinger, seconded by Farmer, passed unanimously on a roll call vote of 14-0, with all Council members McCurn, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, and Lamb voting in favor.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed five significant contract awards totaling approximately $1.4 million for various infrastructure and environmental improvement projects.

Environmental and Infrastructure Projects

The largest contract approved was Resolution 0730-19, awarding $525,000 to Landmark Sprinkler, Inc. for Fire Protection System Replacement at the Material Recovery Facility. This represents a major safety upgrade to the waste processing facility.

Resolution 0731-19 authorized a $507,900 contract with Churchill McGee, LLC for the Dartmouth Drive Culvert Replacement project, addressing critical stormwater infrastructure needs.

Water Quality and Treatment Improvements

Three contracts focused on water quality and treatment systems. Resolution 0718-19 approved $152,962 for Advanced Mulching Technologies d/b/a EcoGro to complete the WGPL Green Infrastructure Project.

The West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant received attention through Resolution 0721-19, which awarded $95,000 to Herrick Co., Inc. for Aeration Blower Improvements to enhance treatment capacity and efficiency.

Resolution 0729-19 allocated $115,000 to Trademark Excavating Co., LLC for Firethorn Detention Basin Water Quality Improvements, continuing the municipality's focus on stormwater management and environmental protection.

Financial Impact

The combined value of these five contracts represents a substantial investment in municipal infrastructure, with particular emphasis on environmental systems, water treatment, and public safety improvements. The contracts span multiple departments and service areas, indicating a comprehensive approach to infrastructure maintenance and upgrades.

Appointments

The council approved multiple appointments and reappointments to various boards and commissions during the meeting.

New Appointments: • Kyle Wicker was appointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board • Gregory Beard was appointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • Paige Bensing was appointed to the Carnegie Center for Literacy • Chester Grundy was appointed to the Carnegie Center for Literacy • Karen Hill was appointed to the Lexington Center Corporation • Ed Holmes was appointed to the Lexington Center Corporation • Seon Jackson was appointed to the Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center • Anthony de Movellan was appointed to the Planning Commission

Reappointments: • Matthew Boyd was reappointed to the Administrative Hearing Board • Joanna Rodes was reappointed to the Black & Williams Neighborhood Community Center Board • Shelia Simpson was reappointed to the Black & Williams Neighborhood Community Center Board • Matthew Valentine was reappointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • Lisa Higgins-Hord was reappointed to the Carnegie Center for Literacy • Jennifer Kane was reappointed to the Carnegie Center for Literacy • Tim Schuler was reappointed to CASA of Lexington • Jason Jones was reappointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities • Jeffrey Violette was reappointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board • Marlena Sanchez was reappointed to the Human Rights Commission • Susan Wright was reappointed to the Library Board of Trustees • Frank Penn was reappointed to the Planning Commission • Christian Motley was reappointed to the Transit Authority Board

The appointments covered a wide range of municipal functions, from housing and transportation to cultural arts and public safety, reflecting the diverse advisory structure supporting city operations.

Recognition of Lextran Million Milers

0:30

The council received a presentation recognizing Lextran employees who have achieved the milestone of driving one million miles or more without a preventable accident, representing 12 or more years of safe driving service.

Carrie Butler presented the recognition, highlighting four employees who reached this significant safety achievement:

• Terry Russell
• Anthony Hamilton
• Anthony Angelicchio
• Mary George

This recognition program acknowledges the exceptional safety records of Lextran drivers who have demonstrated consistent safe driving practices over more than a decade of service. The million-mile milestone represents a substantial commitment to public safety and professional excellence in public transportation.

The presentation was informational in nature, celebrating the achievements of these long-serving Lextran employees and their contributions to the safety and reliability of Lexington's public transit system.

Amendment to Budgets for FY 2020 Schedule No. 1

1:00

The council considered Ordinance 0742-19, an amendment to certain budgets for Fiscal Year 2020 Schedule No. 1. This ordinance was designed to amend municipal budgets to reflect current requirements for expenditures and to appropriate and re-appropriate funds as needed.

The ordinance represents a routine budget adjustment measure that allows the municipality to realign its financial allocations to meet operational needs that have emerged since the original FY 2020 budget was adopted. Such amendments are typically necessary to address changing circumstances, updated cost estimates, or shifting priorities in municipal operations.

The agenda item was presented as a standard budgetary housekeeping measure, with the ordinance focusing on ensuring that municipal expenditures align with current requirements and that appropriate funds are allocated where needed.

The council approved Ordinance 0742-19 without recorded debate or opposition, indicating consensus on the necessity of these budget adjustments for the fiscal year.

Amendment to Code of Ordinances for Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition

1:30

The council considered Ordinance 0682-19, which proposed amendments to the Code of Ordinances regarding the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition. The ordinance made several key changes to the existing framework governing this coalition.

The primary changes included:

• Name Change: The ordinance formally changed the name to the "Lexington-Fayette Urban County Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition"

• Terminology Updates: The legislation updated various terms and language throughout the relevant code sections to reflect current practices and standards

• Board Membership Adjustments: The ordinance modified the composition and structure of the coalition's board membership

The ordinance represents administrative updates to align the code with the coalition's current operations and organizational structure. These changes appear to be largely procedural, focusing on clarifying the coalition's official designation and ensuring the governing documents accurately reflect how the organization functions.

The council approved Ordinance 0682-19 without recorded debate or opposition during this portion of the meeting. The amendments will formalize the updated name, terminology, and board structure for the domestic and sexual violence prevention coalition within Lexington-Fayette Urban County's official ordinances.

This action ensures the coalition's governing framework remains current and properly codified within the municipal legal structure, supporting the organization's ongoing work in domestic and sexual violence prevention efforts throughout the community.

Transfer of Civil Service Position

2:00

The council considered Ordinance 0708-19, which would transfer a classified civil service position from the Department of General Services to the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management. The ordinance amends the city's authorized staffing strength by moving this position between departments rather than creating or eliminating a role.

The transfer represents an organizational restructuring to better align staffing resources with operational needs. By moving the classified position to the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management, the city aims to optimize its workforce allocation and improve service delivery in facilities and fleet operations.

No significant discussion or debate was recorded regarding this administrative transfer. The ordinance was presented as a routine organizational adjustment that maintains the overall staffing levels while repositioning resources where they can be most effectively utilized.

The council approved Ordinance 0708-19 without opposition, allowing the transfer of the civil service position to proceed as proposed. This approval enables the city to implement the organizational change and ensures proper staffing alignment between the Department of General Services and the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management.