Urban County Council Special Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on March 17, 2020, at 4:03 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The council addressed three agenda items during the meeting, taking a total of three votes on various ordinances. Two ordinances were successfully approved by the council, while one ordinance was postponed for future consideration. No public comments were heard during this session, and no presentations were given to the council members.

Attendance

The meeting on March 17, 2020 had twelve members present and two absent.

Present: • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Evans • Farmer • Lamb • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Reynolds • Worley • Bledsoe

Absent: • Kay • McCurn

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on three ordinances during the March 17, 2020 meeting.

Ordinance 0091-20 - Downtown Lexington Management District 0:45 Councilmember Ellinger motioned to postpone the second reading of the ordinance reestablishing the Downtown Lexington Management District, seconded by Bledsoe. The motion passed unanimously with all 12 members voting in favor: F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, and Bledsoe. The ordinance was postponed until March 19, 2020.

Ordinance 0039-20 - Perry Street Zoning Change 1:30 Farmer motioned to approve the zoning change from Single Family Residential to Planned Neighborhood Residential for properties on Perry Street, with Ellinger providing the second. The ordinance passed on a roll call vote of 12-0-0, with all council members voting in favor: F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, and Bledsoe.

Ordinance 0340-20 - Short-Term Rental Ordinance 3:45 Lamb motioned to postpone the first reading of the short-term rental ordinance, seconded by Mossotti. The postponement motion passed by a vote of 9-2-1. Nine members voted in favor of postponement: F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Worley, and Bledsoe. Two members voted against the postponement: Lamb and Mossotti. One abstention was recorded. The ordinance was postponed until the council returns from break.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three financial resolutions totaling $340,714.63 in expenditures and agreements.

Resolution 0227-20 authorized a contract increase of $16,214.63 for the WGPL Green Infrastructure Project with Advanced Mulching Technologies d/b/a EcoGro. This contract modification expands the scope of the existing green infrastructure work.

Resolution 0228-20 approved $4,500 for additional geotechnical testing services related to the Jacobson Park Roadway Widening project. Bell Engineering Services will conduct the supplementary testing to support the roadway expansion planning and design phase.

Resolution 0229-20 established a Comprehensive Operation Analysis Agreement with Lextran for $320,000. This grant funding will support a thorough analysis of Lextran's transit operations to identify improvements and efficiencies in the public transportation system.

The three resolutions represent a mix of infrastructure improvements, engineering services, and transit system analysis, with the Lextran operational study comprising the largest single expenditure at $320,000.

Appointments

The council approved several appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions during the March 17, 2020 meeting.

New Appointments: • Michelle Bond was appointed to the Charles Young Center Advisory Board • Patricia Hayden was appointed to the Charles Young Center Advisory Board • Monica Conrad was appointed to the Mayor's International Affairs Advisory Commission • Nora Brunner was appointed to the Public Arts Commission

Reappointments: • Tara Cecil was reappointed to the Masterson Station Park Advisory Board • Mac Ferguson was reappointed to the Masterson Station Park Advisory Board • Dan Stever was reappointed to the Tree Board

These appointments fill vacant positions and continue existing service on boards that advise the city on various matters including parks and recreation, international affairs, public arts, and environmental concerns. The Charles Young Center Advisory Board received two new members, while the Masterson Station Park Advisory Board saw both of its appointees continue their service through reappointment.

Contested Items

The meeting featured significant debate over a short-term rental ordinance, which generated heated discussion among council members regarding the timing and process for its first reading.

The primary disagreement centered on whether to proceed with the ordinance's first reading given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on the rental market. Council members expressed concerns about the appropriateness of moving forward with new regulations during a time of economic uncertainty for property owners and the hospitality industry.

A key point of contention involved public input procedures. Some council members argued that the current circumstances limited residents' ability to participate meaningfully in the legislative process, potentially compromising the thoroughness of public review that such an ordinance typically requires.

The debate highlighted tensions between those who felt the ordinance should proceed as scheduled to address ongoing community concerns about short-term rentals, and those who believed the timing was inappropriate given the pandemic's economic disruptions to the rental market.

*Note: Specific participant names, vote outcomes, and exact timestamps were not available in the provided meeting data.*

Ordinance 0294-20

0:15

The council considered Ordinance 0294-20, which proposed amending the municipal budget to allocate $5,270 for the installation of a water fountain at Belleau Wood Park.

Moloney served as the key speaker presenting this ordinance to the council. The ordinance specifically addressed budget modifications necessary to fund the park improvement project.

The water fountain installation represents an enhancement to the recreational facilities at Belleau Wood Park, with the allocated funds covering the costs associated with purchasing and installing the fountain equipment.

The council approved Ordinance 0294-20, authorizing the budget amendment and allowing the city to proceed with the water fountain installation project at Belleau Wood Park.

Ordinance 0039-20

1:30

The council considered Ordinance 0039-20, which proposed changing the zoning classification from Single Family Residential to Planned Neighborhood Residential for properties located on Perry Street.

Key speakers during the discussion included Farmer and Ellinger, who presented information and participated in the debate regarding this zoning change. The ordinance represents a shift to a more flexible residential zoning category that typically allows for a broader range of housing types and development patterns while maintaining neighborhood character.

The Planned Neighborhood Residential designation generally permits greater density and variety in housing options compared to traditional single-family zoning, potentially allowing for townhomes, duplexes, or other multi-family residential structures within planned development frameworks.

Following discussion of the proposal, the council voted to approve Ordinance 0039-20, officially changing the zoning classification for the Perry Street properties as requested.

Ordinance 0340-20

3:45

The council considered Ordinance 0340-20, which would amend the municipal code to regulate short-term rentals within the city. The proposed ordinance includes provisions for registration requirements and tax collection procedures for short-term rental properties.

Key speakers during the discussion included council members Lamb, Worley, and Farmer, who engaged in debate about various aspects of the proposed regulations. The ordinance aims to establish a framework for overseeing short-term rental operations while ensuring proper tax revenue collection from these properties.

Following discussion among the council members, the decision was made to postpone action on Ordinance 0340-20. The postponement allows for additional review and consideration of the proposed short-term rental regulations before bringing the matter back for a future vote.

The ordinance represents the city's effort to address the growing short-term rental market and establish appropriate regulatory oversight for these properties operating within municipal boundaries.