Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on January 23, 2020, at 6:08 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The Council addressed three agenda items during the meeting, all of which were approved through formal votes. The business included an ordinance amending Land Subdivision Regulations, an ordinance changing the zoning designation for property located at 840 Angliana Avenue, and an ordinance amending budgets for municipal expenditures. The Council conducted three motions and votes throughout the evening and heard one public comment from a community member. All three ordinances on the agenda received approval, demonstrating a productive session focused on land use regulations, zoning matters, and municipal budget adjustments.

Attendance

All 15 council members were present for the January 23, 2020 meeting, with one member arriving late.

Present: • Mossotti • Plomin • Reynolds • Worley • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs • Kay • Lamb • McCurn • Moloney • Bledsoe (arrived late)

Absent: None

Late: • Bledsoe

The meeting achieved full attendance with all council members participating in the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted three roll call votes during the January 23, 2020 meeting 0:00.

Ordinance 0030-20 - Councilmember Ellinger motioned to approve an ordinance changing the zone from a Wholesale and Warehouse Business (B-4) zone to a High Rise Apartment (R-5) zone for property located at 840 Angliana Ave. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Farmer. The ordinance passed with 14 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention. Voting in favor were Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

Various Ordinances Second Reading - Councilmember Ellinger motioned for the second reading of various ordinances, with Councilmember Farmer providing the second. This motion passed unanimously with all 15 members voting in favor: Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

Various Resolutions Second Reading - Councilmember Farmer motioned for the second reading of various resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Ellinger. This motion also passed unanimously with all 15 members voting in favor: Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

All three votes were conducted as roll call votes, with strong support demonstrated across the Council for the items under consideration.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved several significant financial expenditures totaling over $4.8 million during the January 23, 2020 meeting.

Vehicle and Equipment Purchases

The Council authorized the purchase of a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD for the Division of Fire and Emergency Services through Resolution 0020-20. The vehicle will be acquired from Bachman Auto Group for $68,945.20.

Facility Improvements

Resolution 0032-20 approved a $221,000 contract with C3 Mechanical, LLC for a boiler replacement project at the Department of General Services. This infrastructure upgrade addresses heating system needs for municipal facilities.

Water Treatment Safety Upgrades

The Council approved Resolution 0040-20, authorizing a $458,500 contract with Herrick Co., Inc. for safety shower and eye wash replacement systems at two wastewater treatment facilities. The project covers both the Town Branch Waste Water Treatment Plant and the West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant, ensuring compliance with safety regulations for workers handling hazardous materials.

Major Sewer Infrastructure Project

The largest expenditure approved was Resolution 0052-20, a $4,077,162 contract with Lagco, Inc. for comprehensive sewer improvements. The project encompasses the Cane Run and Lexmark Trunk A and Trunk B sewer systems, representing a significant investment in the city's wastewater infrastructure to improve capacity and reliability.

These financial actions demonstrate the Council's commitment to maintaining essential city services, from emergency response capabilities and facility operations to critical water treatment and sewer infrastructure that serves the community's long-term needs.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the Council regarding homelessness services in the city.

James Baker spoke about his personal experiences with homelessness and raised concerns about conditions at the Salvation Army facility 0:00. Baker highlighted what he described as issues of discrimination and inadequate facilities at the organization, drawing from his direct experience with their services.

The public comment period provided an opportunity for community input on local homelessness services and the quality of care provided by service organizations operating in the city.

Appointments

The Council approved multiple appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions during the January 23, 2020 meeting.

New Appointments: • Mary McCormac was appointed to the Arboretum Advisory Board • Nicole Jenkins was appointed to the Explorium Board of Directors • Joshua Mers was appointed to the Human Rights Commission • Joseph Coleman was appointed to the Infrastructure Hearing Board • Mike Mayer was appointed to the Infrastructure Hearing Board • Mark Polston was appointed to the Infrastructure Hearing Board

Reappointments: • Christina Espinosa Bard was reappointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities • Ryan Guyder was reappointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities • Steve Stadler was reappointed to the Infrastructure Hearing Board • Lt. Mark Brand was reappointed to the Keep Lexington Beautiful Commission

The Infrastructure Hearing Board received the most attention with four appointments total - three new members (Coleman, Mayer, and Polston) and one reappointment (Stadler). The Commission for People with Disabilities saw two reappointments with Espinosa Bard and Guyder continuing their service.

These appointments fill vacant positions and ensure continued representation on various advisory bodies that support city operations and community initiatives across areas including environmental stewardship, accessibility advocacy, human rights, infrastructure oversight, and cultural programming.

Contested Items

The January 23, 2020 Council meeting featured significant debate over the Town Branch Commons Project, with Council Member Maloney leading opposition to the proposal.

The disagreement centered on substantial changes to the project's funding structure and scope since its initial approval. Council Member Maloney raised concerns about modifications that included the removal of planned water features from the original design. These alterations represented a departure from what the Council had previously endorsed, prompting questions about the project's direction and financial management.

Budget concerns formed a central part of Maloney's opposition. The Council Member expressed dissatisfaction with how funding changes would impact the overall project delivery and questioned whether the modified proposal still aligned with the community's expectations and the Council's original intent.

The heated discussion highlighted tensions between moving forward with an altered version of the Town Branch Commons Project versus potentially revisiting the scope and funding to better match the original vision. Council Member Maloney's vocal opposition underscored concerns about project accountability and ensuring that approved initiatives maintain their core commitments to the community.

The debate reflected broader questions about project management and the balance between adapting to financial realities while preserving the essential elements that justified initial approval. The discussion demonstrated the challenges local governments face when economic constraints require modifications to previously approved community development projects.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available in the provided data for this contested item.*

Ordinance amending Land Subdivision Regulations

0:00

The Council considered Ordinance 0029-20, which amends Articles 1 and 6-8(k) of the Land Subdivision Regulations. The ordinance specifically addresses the definition of "stub street signs" and establishes clearer guidelines for their location and responsibility.

The proposed amendments focus on two key areas of the Land Subdivision Regulations. Article 1 receives updated language regarding the definition of stub street signs, while Article 6-8(k) is modified to clarify requirements for the placement of these signs and designate who is responsible for their installation and maintenance.

Key speakers during the discussion included Council members Ellinger and Farmer, who addressed various aspects of the proposed regulatory changes. The ordinance aims to provide more precise guidance for developers and city staff regarding stub street signage requirements in new subdivisions.

Stub street signs are typically installed at the end of streets that are planned for future extension, serving as placeholders to indicate the intended street name and help with navigation and emergency services access. The regulatory amendments seek to eliminate ambiguity in current requirements and establish consistent standards across all new development projects.

The Council approved Ordinance 0029-20, implementing the amendments to the Land Subdivision Regulations. This approval will provide clearer direction for future subdivision developments and ensure more consistent application of stub street sign requirements throughout the city's development review process.

Ordinance changing zone for property at 840 Angliana Ave.

0:00 The Council considered Ordinance 0030-20, which proposed changing the zoning classification for property located at 840 Angliana Ave. from a Wholesale and Warehouse Business (B-4) zone to a High Rise Apartment (R-5) zone.

The ordinance was discussed by key speakers including Council members Ellinger and Farmer. The rezoning request would allow the property to transition from commercial warehouse use to high-density residential development, specifically permitting high-rise apartment construction on the site.

The Council approved the ordinance, enabling the zoning change from B-4 to R-5 for the Angliana Avenue property. This approval allows the property owner to proceed with residential development plans that would not have been permitted under the previous wholesale and warehouse zoning designation.

Ordinance amending budgets for municipal expenditures

0:00

The Council considered Ordinance 0086-20, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures and appropriates and re-appropriates funds accordingly.

Key speakers during the discussion included Council members Ellinger and Farmer, who addressed various aspects of the budget amendments. The ordinance represents routine adjustments to municipal spending allocations to ensure departments have appropriate funding levels for their operational needs.

The budget amendments covered multiple areas of municipal expenditures, though specific departmental allocations and dollar amounts were not detailed in the available materials. These types of ordinances typically address mid-year budget adjustments, transfers between accounts, or reallocation of funds based on changing operational requirements.

The Council approved Ordinance 0086-20, allowing the budget modifications to take effect. This approval enables the urban county government to proceed with the adjusted spending plans and ensures continued funding for municipal operations under the revised budget framework.