Urban County Council Special Virtual Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council held a Special Virtual Meeting on May 19, 2020, at 4:15 PM, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting focused on a single agenda item addressing the suspension of enforcement of certain ordinances during what appears to be an emergency period. The council conducted one vote during the session, giving first reading to Ordinance 0494-20, which would suspend enforcement of specific municipal ordinances. No public comments were heard during this special meeting, and no presentations were given, reflecting the focused nature of this emergency session.

Attendance

All council members were present for the May 19, 2020 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Gorton • Farmer • Kay • Lamb • McCurn • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Reynolds • Swanson • Worley • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Evans

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted one roll call vote during the meeting on Ordinance 0494-20.

Ordinance 0494-20 - An Ordinance suspending the enforcement of certain Ordinances and providing the Mayor with the criteria and procedure to temporarily close public streets, to permit the temporary use of parking lots, sidewalks, parks, and closed public streets for outdoor dining and retail.

Ms. Reynolds made the motion and Mr. Ellinger provided the second. The ordinance was amended to change the end date to June 24, 2020, before the final vote.

The ordinance passed by a roll call vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention.

Voting in favor (15): - Farmer - Kay - Lamb - McCurn - Moloney - Mossotti - Plomin - Reynolds - Swanson - Worley - Bledsoe - F. Brown - J. Brown - Ellinger - Evans

Voting against: None

Abstaining (1): One council member abstained from the vote, though the specific member was not identified in the available records.

This ordinance appears to be related to COVID-19 pandemic response measures, allowing for expanded outdoor dining and retail operations by temporarily suspending certain city ordinances and giving the Mayor authority to close streets and repurpose public spaces for commercial use.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

Amendment to Extend Ordinance End Date

The primary point of contention centered on an amendment to extend an ordinance's end date from June 10, 2020, to June 24, 2020. The proposal generated debate among council members, with opposition stemming from specific concerns about the extension's implications.

Members who opposed the amendment raised two main objections: concerns about monitoring capabilities and questions about the appropriateness of the trial period length. The nature of these monitoring concerns and the specific details of what was being monitored were not specified in the available materials.

The disagreement reflected broader questions about the timing and oversight of the ordinance in question. Some council members appeared to favor maintaining the original June 10th deadline, while others supported the two-week extension to June 24th.

Despite the opposition, the amendment ultimately passed, though the exact vote count and which specific members voted for or against the measure were not detailed in the available records. The split vote indicates that the council was not unanimous in their decision, suggesting this was a substantive policy disagreement rather than a procedural matter.

The contested nature of this item demonstrates the council's careful consideration of timing and oversight mechanisms when implementing municipal ordinances, particularly during what appears to have been a trial or temporary implementation period.

0494-20 An Ordinance suspending the enforcement of certain Ordinances

The council considered Ordinance 0494-20, which would temporarily suspend enforcement of certain city ordinances to allow businesses to expand outdoor operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ordinance permits the temporary closure of public streets and authorizes the use of parking lots, sidewalks, parks, and closed public streets for outdoor dining and retail activities to help businesses comply with social distancing and health requirements.

Multiple council members participated in the discussion, including Mayor Gorton, Ms. Reynolds, Mr. Ellinger, Ms. Lamb, Mr. J. Brown, Ms. Evans, Mr. Moloney, Ms. Bledsoe, Mr. Farmer, Mr. Worley, and Mr. Swanson. Dir. Peacher also provided input during the deliberations.

The ordinance represents the city's effort to support local businesses struggling with capacity restrictions and social distancing mandates by providing flexibility in how they can utilize public spaces for commercial activities. By suspending certain regulatory enforcement, the measure would allow restaurants and retail establishments to expand their operations outdoors, potentially helping them maintain viability during pandemic-related restrictions.

The item received its first reading during the meeting. As with all ordinances, it will require additional readings and approval before taking effect. The temporary nature of the enforcement suspension reflects the emergency circumstances created by the pandemic and the need for adaptive regulatory responses to support the local business community while maintaining public health and safety standards.