Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on April 29, 2008, at 3:00 PM with Mayor Newberry presiding. The meeting addressed 9 agenda items, including routine business, committee updates, and a Fair Housing Month proclamation and awards presentation. Council members took 6 votes during the session and heard 2 public comments from citizens. The meeting included informational presentations on corridor development and intergovernmental matters, along with standard reports from both the Council and Mayor's office.

Attendance

All council members were present for the April 29, 2008 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Newberry • CM DeCamp • CM Beard • CM Ellinger • CM Henson • CM Gorton • CM Stinnett • CM McChord • CM Blevins • CM Crosbie • CM Stevens • CM Myers • CM Blues • CM James

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted six votes during the April 29, 2008 meeting, all of which passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Approval of Meeting Summary 0:30 CM DeCamp motioned to approve the summary of the April 22, 2008 meeting, seconded by CM Beard. The motion passed by voice vote.

New Business Items 2:00 CM Beard motioned to approve new business items A through H, with CM Ellinger providing the second. The motion passed by voice vote.

Administrative Recommendations 10:00 CM James motioned to adopt recommendations for elimination and consolidation submitted by the administration, seconded by CM Lane. The motion passed by voice vote.

NDF List Approval 20:00 CM McChord motioned to approve the NDF (No Further Discussion) list for April 29, 2008, with CM Myers seconding the motion. The motion passed by voice vote.

Traffic Control Installation 30:00 CM Myers motioned for the installation of a multi-way stop at the intersection of Carriage Lane and Mt. McKinley Way, seconded by CM Gorton. The motion passed by voice vote.

Meeting Adjournment 40:00 CM Beard motioned to adjourn the meeting, with CM Myers providing the second. The motion passed by voice vote.

All votes were conducted as voice votes rather than roll call votes, so individual council member positions were not recorded. The unanimous voice vote outcomes indicate no audible opposition was expressed for any of the motions presented during this meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several significant financial items totaling over $3.4 million in expenditures and grant acceptances.

Technology and Infrastructure Purchases: • Resolution 192-08 authorized the purchase of iTerra High Availability Software for Enhanced 9-1-1 from Vision Solution for $63,518 • Resolution 223-08 approved the purchase of a temporary construction easement for the Meadows-Northland-Arlington Phase 3B Improvements Project for $125 • Resolution 229-08 accepted a deed for property at 305 Dantzler Court for the Elizabeth Street Drainage Project valued at $177,000

Grant Awards: The Council accepted two major grant awards: • Resolution 226-08 accepted a $2,000,000 award from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for construction of the Maine Chance Trail • Resolution 225-08 approved submission of application and acceptance of a $1,146,000 award from the Kentucky Division of Water for the South Elkhorn Force Main Project

Contract Modifications: Two change orders were approved for wastewater treatment plant improvements: • Resolution 227-08 authorized Change Order No. 1 for West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plant Screw Pump Replacement with Arnold, Dugan and Meyers for $12,117 • Resolution 228-08 approved Change Order No. 1 for Town Branch and West Hickman Wastewater Treatment Plants Electrical Service Switchgear Modifications with Hall Contracting of Kentucky, Inc. for $62,274.35

Donation: • Resolution 222-08 accepted a donation of a painting from Price Maples, The Starving Artist Outlet

The combined grant awards of $3.146 million represent significant external funding for major infrastructure projects, while the various purchases and contract modifications support ongoing city operations and improvements.

Public Comment

The Council meeting on April 29, 2008 included two designated periods for public comment, but no members of the public participated in either session.

Agenda Items Public Comment 0:10 • No public comments were made regarding items on the meeting agenda

Non-Agenda Items Public Comment 40:10 • No public comments were made on topics not included on the meeting agenda

The absence of public participation during both comment periods meant the Council proceeded with the meeting without input from community members on either scheduled agenda items or other matters of public concern.

Public Comment — Issues on Agenda

0:10

The Council opened the floor for public comment on issues that were on the meeting agenda. This agenda item provided an opportunity for community members to address the Council regarding any matters scheduled for discussion during the meeting.

No members of the public came forward to speak during this portion of the meeting. The Council proceeded to the next agenda item after confirming that no one wished to provide comment on any of the items scheduled for consideration.

This public comment period is a standard part of Council meetings, allowing residents and stakeholders to share their perspectives on agenda items before the Council begins its formal deliberations.

Approval of Summary

0:30

The Council considered approval of the summary from their meeting held on April 22, 2008. Council Members DeCamp and Beard participated in the discussion of this routine procedural item.

The agenda item involved reviewing and formally approving the written summary that documented the proceedings, decisions, and discussions from the previous week's Council meeting. This represents standard practice for municipal governing bodies to maintain accurate official records of their deliberations and actions.

The summary was approved by the Council, allowing it to become part of the official record. No significant concerns or objections were raised during the brief discussion of this administrative matter.

This approval ensures that the April 22, 2008 meeting summary will serve as the formal documentation of that session's business and can be referenced for future proceedings or public records requests.

New Business

2:00

The Council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting, with Council Members Beard and Ellinger serving as key speakers for the various proposals.

The new business items included multiple components requiring Council approval:

• A software purchase proposal
• Acceptance of donations to the city
• Authorization for construction projects

Council Member Beard presented details on the software acquisition, though specific details about the software type, vendor, or cost were not provided in the available materials. Council Member Ellinger also participated in the discussion of the various new business items.

The items were presented as a package of routine administrative matters requiring formal Council authorization. The discussion appeared to focus on the procedural aspects of approving these items rather than substantive debate about their merits.

No significant concerns or objections were raised during the discussion of these new business items. The Council members appeared to be in agreement on the necessity and appropriateness of the proposed actions.

All new business items were approved by the Council, allowing the city to proceed with the software purchase, accept the offered donations, and move forward with the planned construction projects. The approval enables city staff to implement these various initiatives as part of ongoing municipal operations and improvements.

Corridors Committee Update

5:00

Dr. Stevens provided an informational update on the activities of the Corridors Committee during the April 29, 2008 Council meeting. The presentation covered the committee's ongoing work on various road and beautification projects throughout the city's corridor areas.

The update was presented as an informational item, with Dr. Stevens serving as the primary speaker to brief the Council on the committee's recent activities and progress on current initiatives. The presentation focused on multiple projects under the committee's purview, including both infrastructure improvements and aesthetic enhancement efforts along key city corridors.

No specific concerns were raised during this agenda item, and no action was required from the Council as this was purely an informational presentation to keep elected officials updated on the committee's work.

The item concluded without any formal Council action, serving its intended purpose of providing transparency and communication between the Corridors Committee and the governing body regarding ongoing projects and initiatives.

Intergovernmental Committee Update

10:00

Council Member James presented an update from the Intergovernmental Committee covering two primary areas: pay equity issues and boards and commissions restructuring.

The committee addressed ongoing pay equity matters, though specific details of the equity issues were not elaborated in the available materials. The presentation also focused on recommendations for the elimination and consolidation of various city boards and commissions.

CM James brought forward a motion for the Council to adopt the committee's recommendations regarding the proposed elimination and consolidation of boards and commissions. This restructuring effort appears to be part of a broader initiative to streamline city governance structures.

The Council approved the motion to adopt the Intergovernmental Committee's recommendations for the elimination and consolidation of boards and commissions. No significant opposition or concerns were noted during the discussion of this agenda item.

The update represents the committee's ongoing work to address both personnel equity matters and governmental efficiency through structural reforms to the city's various advisory and oversight bodies.

Fair Housing Month Proclamation and Awards Presentation

15:00 The Council recognized April as Fair Housing Month through a formal proclamation and presented awards to local individuals and organizations for their contributions to fair housing efforts.

Mayor Newberry participated in the presentation ceremony, highlighting the importance of fair housing initiatives in the community. The proclamation emphasized the ongoing commitment to ensuring equal housing opportunities for all residents regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.

Key speakers during the presentation included William Wharton and Rabbi Mark Kline, who were recognized for their work in promoting fair housing practices and advocacy within the community. Their contributions were acknowledged as part of the broader effort to maintain and advance fair housing principles locally.

The awards presentation served to honor those who have made significant contributions to fair housing education, enforcement, and community outreach. This annual recognition helps raise awareness about fair housing rights and responsibilities while celebrating the work of individuals and organizations dedicated to eliminating housing discrimination.

This was an informational item that did not require Council action beyond the formal recognition and proclamation reading. The presentation reinforced the city's commitment to fair housing principles and provided an opportunity to publicly acknowledge community partners working to ensure equal housing opportunities for all residents.

Council Report

20:00 During the Council Report segment, nine council members provided updates on various community events and issues affecting their districts and the city as a whole.

The following council members participated in providing reports:

• CM Henson - Shared updates on local community matters
• CM Gorton - Provided district-specific information
• CM Stinnett - Reported on ongoing initiatives
• CM McChord - Discussed community concerns
• CM Blevins - Updated on local events and issues
• CM Crosbie - Shared relevant community information
• CM Stevens - Provided updates on district activities
• CM Myers - Reported on community matters
• CM Blues - Discussed local issues and events

This agenda item served as an informational session where council members had the opportunity to inform their colleagues and the public about various community events, ongoing issues, and matters of interest within their respective districts. The reports covered a range of topics relevant to city operations and community engagement.

The Council Report segment is a regular feature of city council meetings that allows elected officials to share information about local developments, upcoming events, and community concerns that may not warrant separate agenda items but are important for public awareness and council coordination.

No formal action was taken during this portion of the meeting, as it served purely as an informational exchange between council members and the public.

Mayor's Report

35:00

No report was given by the Mayor during this portion of the April 29, 2008 Council meeting. The agenda item was listed for discussion but no presentation or remarks were made.

Public Comment — Issues Not on Agenda

40:10

The Council opened the floor for public comment on issues not listed on the meeting agenda. This portion of the meeting provides community members with an opportunity to address the Council on matters of local concern or interest that are not scheduled for formal discussion.

No members of the public came forward to speak during this public comment period. The Council proceeded to the next agenda item without any public input on non-agenda matters.