Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council held a virtual meeting on August 27, 2020, at 6:00 PM, presided over by Mayor Gorton. The council addressed 2 agenda items during the session, with 4 total votes taken throughout the meeting. No public comments were heard during this virtual session. The council successfully approved an ordinance amending and restating Ordinance No. 42-2020, while postponing consideration of an ordinance that would have amended Articles 8-12, 8-13, and 8-14 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Attendance

The following members were present at the August 27, 2020 meeting:

• Swanson
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Ellinger
• Farmer
• Higgins-Hord
• Kay
• Lamb
• McCurn
• Moloney
• Mossotti
• Plomin
• Reynolds

Absent: Worley

Late arrivals: None

A total of 14 members were present with 1 member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted four roll call votes during the meeting, with all measures passing unanimously with 15 members voting in favor and none opposed.

Ordinance 0732-20 2:00 - An ordinance changing the zone from Highway Service Business (B-3) to Wholesale and Warehouse Business (B-4) for 1.744 net acres at 1540 Eastland Parkway was approved. Farmer made the motion, seconded by McCurn. The measure passed 15-0 with all council members voting in favor: Swanson, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Farmer, Higgins-Hord, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, and Reynolds.

Ordinance 0733-20 2:30 - An ordinance amending Article 23c-7(c) of the Zoning Ordinance to clarify the application and reallocation of exaction credits in the Urban County's Expansion Areas passed unanimously. Farmer motioned and McCurn seconded the measure, which received 15 votes in favor from all present council members.

Ordinance 0742-20 3:00 - The council approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of Various Purpose General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020, in the amount of $8,000,000. With Farmer's motion and McCurn's second, the ordinance passed 15-0 with unanimous support from all council members.

Resolution 0741-20 3:30 - A resolution authorizing the advertisement for bids and distribution of a Preliminary Official Statement for the purchase of the Various Purpose General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020 was approved. McCurn made the motion, seconded by Plomin. The resolution passed with all 15 council members voting in favor and no opposition.

All four measures received complete unanimous support from the council with no abstentions recorded on any vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several significant financial measures totaling over $11.4 million in bonds and grant funding.

Bond Authorization • The council considered Ordinance 0742-20 authorizing $8,000,000 in Various Purpose General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020. This represents the largest single financial item on the agenda.

Grant Acceptances • Resolution 0723-20 approved accepting $216,800 in grant funding from the University of Kentucky Research Foundation for stormwater quality projects. This funding will support environmental infrastructure improvements.

• Resolution 0748-20 authorized acceptance of $3,226,490 in Federal Emergency Solutions Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the CARES Act. This substantial federal funding was made available as part of the coronavirus relief package to address housing and homelessness issues.

The combined grant funding of approximately $3.4 million, along with the $8 million bond authorization, demonstrates significant capital investment and federal assistance flowing to the municipality during this period. The CARES Act funding in particular reflects the ongoing federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic's economic impacts on housing stability and homelessness services.

Appointments

The meeting included appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions.

Reappointments: • Jeff Fugate was reappointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board • Paul Thornsberry was reappointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board • Marcus Underwood was reappointed to the Charles Young Center Advisory Board • Anne-Tyler Morgan was reappointed to the Economic Development Investment Board • Beau Revlett was reappointed to the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board • Adrian Wallace was reappointed to the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board

New Appointments: • Gregg Jones was appointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • Roy Wilson was appointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • Rania Belmadani was appointed to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition • Allison Connelly was appointed to the Human Rights Commission • Jessica Sanchez was appointed to the Library Board of Advisors • Phil Hager was appointed to the Rural Land Management Board • Glen Krebs was appointed to the Sister Cities Program Commission

The appointments covered a diverse range of municipal boards and commissions, including housing, public safety, social services, economic development, and cultural programs. Several boards received multiple appointments, with both the Affordable Housing Governing Board and Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board each receiving two reappointments, while Bluegrass Crime Stoppers received two new appointments.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that generated significant community opposition and required postponement for further review.

Ordinance Amending Zoning Articles 8-12, 8-13, and 8-14

An ordinance proposing amendments to Articles 8-12, 8-13, and 8-14 of the municipal Zoning Ordinance faced substantial community pushback during the meeting. The proposed changes drew significant public interest and concern from residents, though the specific nature of the amendments and the details of community objections were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

Due to the level of community engagement and opposition expressed, the governing body decided to postpone action on the ordinance. This postponement was specifically intended to provide additional time for public review and input on the proposed zoning changes.

The outcome was a deferral of the ordinance rather than an immediate vote, allowing the community more opportunity to examine the proposed amendments and potentially voice additional concerns or suggestions. This approach demonstrated the body's responsiveness to significant public interest in zoning matters that could affect local development and land use regulations.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this contested item discussion.*

Ordinance amending Article 8-12, 8-13 and 8-14 of the Zoning Ordinance

1:00 The council considered an ordinance to modify allowable floor area ratio (FAR) and lot coverage requirements in three residential zoning districts: Planning Neighborhood Residential (R-3), High Density Apartment (R-4), and High Rise Apartment (R-5) zones.

Key speakers during the discussion included Jim Duncan, Kay, and Lamb, who addressed various aspects of the proposed zoning amendments. The ordinance would affect development standards in these higher-density residential zones by adjusting the mathematical relationship between building floor area and lot size, as well as the percentage of lot area that buildings can cover.

The council ultimately decided to postpone action on the ordinance to allow additional time for public review and input. This postponement suggests the council recognized the need for broader community engagement on the zoning changes, which could significantly impact future residential development patterns in the affected districts.

The R-3, R-4, and R-5 zones typically accommodate multi-family housing developments of varying densities, making changes to FAR and lot coverage standards particularly significant for housing development capacity and neighborhood character. By postponing the ordinance, the council provided an opportunity for residents, developers, and other stakeholders to better understand and respond to the proposed modifications before final consideration.

Ordinance amending and restating Ordinance No. 42-2020

6:00

The council considered an ordinance to extend the deadline for the suspension of certain ordinances that allow for expanded restaurant, bar, and retail business uses through November 8, 2020. This measure amended and restated the previously enacted Ordinance No. 42-2020.

Key speakers during the discussion included Bledsoe and Reynolds, who addressed the proposed extension of the expanded business use provisions. The ordinance was designed to continue providing flexibility for local businesses during ongoing operational challenges by maintaining the suspension of certain regulatory restrictions.

The extension would allow restaurants, bars, and retail establishments to continue operating under the expanded use parameters that had been previously authorized, providing continued relief and operational flexibility through the specified November deadline.

The council approved the ordinance, ensuring that affected businesses would maintain the expanded operational permissions through the extended timeframe. This action demonstrated the council's continued commitment to supporting local businesses by maintaining regulatory flexibility during challenging operating conditions.