Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Council Work Session convened on December 3, 2019, at 3:00 PM with the Mayor presiding. During this session, the Council addressed 2 agenda items and conducted 7 votes on various matters before them. The meeting included 2 public comments from community members.

The Council successfully approved a CDL Supplement Increase, while the Ivy Bridge Drive Barricading item was tabled for future consideration. The work session format allowed Council members to deliberate on these municipal matters and take formal action where appropriate.

Attendance

Thirteen councilmembers were present for the meeting:

• Councilmember Farmer
• Councilmember Ellinger
• Councilmember Bledsoe
• Councilmember Evans
• Councilmember Fred Brown
• Vice Mayor Kaye
• Councilmember Massotti
• Councilmember Lamb
• Councilmember James Brown
• Councilmember Maloney
• Councilmember Gibbs
• Councilmember McKern
• Councilmember Reynolds

Absent: • Councilmember Plowman

No councilmembers arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted seven votes during the meeting, with most items passing through voice votes and one significant item requiring multiple roll call votes.

Routine Approvals

Three resolutions passed unanimously by voice vote in quick succession [timestamp: 00:02-00:06]:

• Motion by Councilmember Farmer, seconded by Councilmember Ellinger, to authorize the mayor to execute amendment number one to work order number eight with Computer Sciences Corporation - Passed

• Motion by Councilmember Bledsoe, seconded by Councilmember Farmer, to authorize the mayor to execute a first amendment to the software as a service agreement with Benevate Inc. - Passed

• Motion by Councilmember Evans, seconded by Councilmember Farmer, to authorize the mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Lexington Housing Authority - Passed

Ivy Bridge Drive Barricading

The most contentious item involved the permanent barricading of Ivy Bridge Drive, which required multiple votes [timestamp: 00:08-00:14]:

• Initial motion by Councilmember Fred Brown, seconded by Councilmember McKern - Failed 6-7
• For: Fred Brown, Maloney, Lamb, Farmer, Ellinger, Bledsoe
• Against: Vice Mayor Kaye, Evans, Massotti, James Brown, Gibbs, McKern, Reynolds

• Motion to reconsider by Councilmember James Brown, seconded by Councilmember Fred Brown - Passed 9-4
• For: James Brown, Fred Brown, Maloney, Lamb, Farmer, Ellinger, Bledsoe, Gibbs, McKern
• Against: Vice Mayor Kaye, Evans, Massotti, Reynolds

• Amendment by Vice Mayor Kaye, seconded by Councilmember James Brown, to postpone the vote until Councilmember Plowman is present - Passed by voice vote

CDL Supplement Increase

Motion by Councilmember Lamb, seconded by Councilmember James Brown, to increase the CDL supplement by one dollar for a half year starting January 1, 2020 - Passed by voice vote 1:30. This increase is contingent upon reallocation of fund balance.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council addressed several financial matters during the meeting, totaling approximately $152,152 in appropriations and contract modifications.

Personnel Appropriations • The Council approved an appropriation of $96,000 to increase the CDL (Commercial Driver's License) supplement by one dollar for a half-year period

Service Agreements and Contracts • A $200 agreement with Kentucky Humanities Council, Incorporated was approved • The Council authorized a First Amendment to the Purchase of Services Agreement with Lexington Children's Museum, Incorporated for $41,500 • A change order number one to the Consultant Services Agreement with EOP Architects was approved for $14,452.28

The largest single expenditure was the CDL supplement increase, representing the city's investment in retaining qualified commercial drivers. The Lexington Children's Museum contract amendment represented the second-largest financial commitment discussed. The Kentucky Humanities Council agreement was the smallest dollar amount considered, while the EOP Architects change order fell in the middle range of the financial actions taken.

These financial actions reflect ongoing operational needs and previously established service relationships with local organizations and contractors. The CDL supplement increase suggests efforts to address staffing challenges in positions requiring commercial driving credentials, while the museum and humanities council agreements indicate continued support for educational and cultural programming in the community.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the council during the public comment period, both focusing on waste management workforce issues.

Javier Perez 2:50 spoke about waste management working conditions, emphasizing the demanding nature of the work performed by city waste management employees. Perez highlighted the hard work and early morning hours that these employees endure to maintain city cleanliness and urged council members to consider their dedication and efforts when making budget-related decisions.

Deion Henry 3:30, identified as a union president, addressed challenges with CDL driver retention within the waste management department. Henry pointed to low pay as a significant factor in the city's difficulty retaining Commercial Driver's License holders, noting that private sector opportunities offer more competitive compensation. He emphasized the importance of implementing the proposed pay increase to address this retention issue.

Both speakers focused their comments on supporting the waste management workforce, with particular attention to compensation and working conditions as key factors affecting city services.

Contested Items

The Council meeting featured two significant contested items that generated substantial debate among members.

Ivy Bridge Drive Barricading

The Council faced a split vote regarding the barricading of Ivy Bridge Drive, with members divided on whether to bypass the standard procedural requirements for street closures. The disagreement centered on the appropriateness of circumventing established processes, leading to a failed initial vote. Following the unsuccessful vote, the matter was brought up for reconsideration, indicating the contentious nature of the issue and the Council's struggle to reach consensus on the proper procedural approach.

CDL Supplement Increase

A heated discussion emerged over funding mechanisms for increasing CDL (Commercial Driver's License) supplements. Council members engaged in extensive debate examining multiple funding sources and carefully weighing the potential impacts on other areas of the municipal budget. The discussion highlighted competing priorities within the budget allocation process, with members expressing different perspectives on how to balance the need for CDL supplement increases against other municipal funding requirements. The debate demonstrated the challenging nature of budget decisions where increasing funding in one area necessarily affects resources available for other city services and programs.

Both contested items reflect broader themes of procedural adherence versus expedited action in the case of the street barricading, and fiscal responsibility versus targeted investment in the case of the CDL supplement funding. These discussions underscore the complex decision-making process Council members face when balancing competing interests and priorities within municipal governance.

CDL Supplement Increase

1:30 The council considered a resolution to increase the CDL (Commercial Driver's License) supplement for city employees. The proposed increase would add one dollar to the existing CDL supplement for a six-month period beginning January 1, 2020.

The discussion centered on addressing ongoing retention and recruitment challenges the city faces with CDL-qualified drivers. Key speakers included Councilmember Lamb, Vice Mayor Kaye, and Councilmember James Brown, who participated in the deliberation of this workforce issue.

The half-year implementation period suggests the council viewed this as either a trial measure or a temporary solution while potentially developing longer-term strategies for driver retention. The modest dollar increase reflects a targeted approach to providing additional compensation for employees who maintain the specialized commercial driving credentials required for certain city positions.

The resolution was approved by the council, authorizing the CDL supplement increase to take effect at the start of 2020. This action demonstrates the council's recognition of the importance of maintaining adequate staffing levels among city workers who operate commercial vehicles, likely including positions in public works, utilities, or other municipal services requiring CDL certification.

Ivy Bridge Drive Barricading

0:08

The council considered a resolution to permanently barricade Ivy Bridge Drive during the meeting. The proposal generated debate among council members regarding proper procedures for street closures.

Councilmember Fred Brown, Vice Mayor Kaye, and Councilmember Evans were the primary participants in the discussion. The main concern raised centered on whether the resolution would bypass the usual process required for street closures.

Council members expressed reservations about moving forward with the barricading without following standard procedures typically required for such actions. The debate focused on ensuring proper protocols were followed rather than taking shortcuts through the resolution process.

After discussion, the council decided to table the resolution rather than proceed with a vote. This outcome suggests the council wanted additional time to review the proper procedures or gather more information before making a final decision on the Ivy Bridge Drive barricading proposal.

The tabling of the item indicates the council prioritized following established processes over expediting the street closure, despite whatever circumstances may have prompted the original barricading request.