Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on May 8, 2008, at 7:00 PM in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Jim Newberry presiding. The Council addressed two agenda items during the session, both of which were approved. The meeting included an ordinance authorizing an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and an ordinance creating Section 17-29.1(c) of the Code of Ordinances. The Council conducted two votes and heard from four members of the public during the comment period.

Attendance

The following members were present at the Council meeting on May 8, 2008:

Present: • Jim Newberry • Blues • Crosbie • DeCamp • Ellinger • Gorton • Gray • Henson • Lane • McChord • Myers • Stevens • Stinnett • Beard • Blevins

Absent: • James

No members arrived late to the meeting. The Council had strong attendance with 15 members present and only one absence.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted two roll call votes during the May 8, 2008 meeting, both passing unanimously.

Approval of Ordinances Given Second Reading 2:00 Mr. Beard motioned to approve ordinances given second reading, with Dr. Stevens providing the second. The motion passed by roll call vote with 14 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All 14 Council members voted in favor: Blues, Crosbie, DeCamp, Ellinger, Gorton, Gray, Henson, Lane, McChord, Myers, Stevens, Stinnett, Beard, and Blevins.

Approval of Resolutions Given Second Reading 7:00 Mr. DeCamp motioned to approve resolutions given second reading, with Dr. Stevens providing the second. This motion also passed unanimously by roll call vote with 14 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. The same 14 Council members voted in favor: Blues, Crosbie, DeCamp, Ellinger, Gorton, Gray, Henson, Lane, McChord, Myers, Stevens, Stinnett, Beard, and Blevins.

Both votes demonstrated complete Council unity, with all present members supporting the approval of both the ordinances and resolutions that had received their second readings during this meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved three significant financial contracts during the May 8, 2008 meeting, totaling $161,782 in expenditures.

Resolution 009 authorized a contract with C & C Fire Sprinkler for $87,700 to install a fire suppression sprinkler system at the Kenwick Community Center. This represents the largest single expenditure approved during the meeting.

Resolution 010 approved a $15,786 contract with Security Cameras Direct, LP for a PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera system for GTV3. This equipment purchase will enhance the city's television broadcasting capabilities.

Resolution 011 authorized $58,296 for sprinkler system repairs to be performed by SimplexGrinnell. This contract addresses necessary maintenance and repairs to existing fire suppression infrastructure.

All three resolutions involved contracts for safety and infrastructure improvements, with fire suppression systems accounting for the majority of the approved spending at $145,996 combined between the Kenwick Community Center installation and the SimplexGrinnell repairs.

Public Comment

Four residents addressed the Council during the public comment period, with three focusing on employee compensation and civil service issues.

Pamela Brandenburg 15:00 expressed concerns about the lack of pay raises for non-collective bargaining employees and advocated for the need to establish collective bargaining rights for city workers.

Steve Keston 17:00 criticized the appointment of Mike Mauser as chair of a committee addressing university off-campus housing issues. Keston alleged that Mauser has demonstrated bias against both students and landlords, making him unsuitable for the leadership role.

Rochelle Clay 19:00 spoke about the need for equality and fairness regarding civil service employees. Clay criticized recent decisions involving the reclassification and abolishment of civil service positions, arguing these actions negatively impact employee rights and job security.

Jamie Cooper 21:00 raised concerns about the city's practice of replacing civil service positions with temporary positions. Cooper suggested these actions may constitute violations of Kentucky statutes governing civil service employment and questioned the legality of the city's approach to staffing changes.

The majority of public comments centered on employment-related issues, particularly regarding civil service protections, compensation equity, and collective bargaining rights. Three of the four speakers addressed various aspects of employee treatment and rights within city government operations.

Appointments

The City Council approved several appointments and reappointments to various municipal boards and authorities during the May 8, 2008 meeting.

Reappointments: • Dr. John Roth was reappointed to the Board of Health • David Mohney was reappointed to the Downtown Development Authority Board • Zephrenia Y. Cambell was reappointed to the One Parent Family Facility Board – Virginia Place

New Appointments: • Richard L. Greene was appointed to the Dunbar Neighborhood Center Board • Karen S. Mundy was appointed to the Rural Land Management Board

These appointments represent the Council's ongoing effort to maintain qualified representation across the city's various advisory boards and development authorities. The appointments span multiple areas of municipal governance, including public health oversight, downtown economic development, neighborhood services, family support services, and rural land use planning.

Contested Items

Two significant items drew opposition from community members during the May 8, 2008 Council meeting.

University Off-Campus Housing Committee Chair Appointment

Steve Keston spoke against the proposed appointment of Mike Mauser as chair of the University off-campus housing committee. Keston argued that Mauser held bias against both students and landlords, making him unsuitable for the leadership position. The appointment was part of the Council's ongoing efforts to address housing issues in areas surrounding the university campus.

Abolishment of Civil Service Positions

Multiple speakers raised concerns about the city's proposal to eliminate certain civil service positions. Community members expressed worry that these positions would be replaced with temporary positions, potentially undermining job security for city employees. The speakers also questioned whether this restructuring might violate Kentucky statutes governing civil service employment. The opposition centered on concerns about the legal implications of converting permanent civil service roles to temporary positions and the broader impact on municipal workforce stability.

Both contested items reflected broader community concerns about city governance decisions affecting different constituencies - university-area residents and landlords in the first case, and municipal employees and their job security in the second. The opposition demonstrated active civic engagement on issues ranging from housing policy to employment practices within city government.

Ordinance authorizing agreement with Ky. Transportation Cabinet

2:00

The Council considered an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a Fifth Amendment to an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for additional federal funds for the West Hickman Trail project.

The Madam Clerk presented the ordinance, which would allow the city to receive additional federal funding through the state transportation department for the ongoing West Hickman Trail development. This represented the fifth amendment to the original agreement between the city and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet regarding this trail project.

No significant discussion or debate was recorded regarding this agenda item. The ordinance appeared to be a routine administrative matter related to securing additional federal funding for the trail project through the established partnership with the state transportation agency.

The Council approved the ordinance, allowing the Mayor to proceed with executing the Fifth Amendment to formalize the additional federal funding arrangement for the West Hickman Trail.

Ordinance creating Section 17-29.1(c) of the Code of Ordinances

2:30

The Council considered an ordinance to create Section 17-29.1(c) of the Code of Ordinances, which addresses the removal of encroaching tables and chairs from businesses operating without proper permits. The ordinance also includes amendments to related sections of the municipal code.

Madam Clerk presented the ordinance, which provides the city with authority to remove outdoor furniture and equipment placed by businesses that do not have the required permits for sidewalk or public space usage. The measure is designed to address situations where restaurants, cafes, and other establishments place tables and chairs on public property without obtaining the necessary approvals.

The ordinance establishes procedures for enforcement and removal of unauthorized outdoor seating arrangements that encroach on public spaces. This regulatory framework aims to ensure that businesses comply with permitting requirements while maintaining orderly use of sidewalks and other public areas.

The Council approved the ordinance without recorded debate or opposition. The measure provides city officials with clear legal authority to address unpermitted outdoor seating situations and helps establish consistent enforcement standards for businesses seeking to use public spaces for commercial purposes.

This ordinance represents part of the city's broader efforts to regulate commercial use of public spaces while ensuring that proper permitting processes are followed by local businesses.