Council Work Session - Virtual Meeting Packet

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened virtually on February 23, 2021, at 3:00 PM, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding over the session. The meeting addressed two main agenda items, focusing primarily on budget amendments and providing an opportunity for public input. Council members took three votes during the proceedings and heard one public comment from a community member. The session resulted in the approval of budget amendments, while the public comment portion served an informational purpose for the council's consideration.

Attendance

All members of the council were present for the February 23, 2021 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Linda Gorton • Vice Mayor Steve Kay • Council Member Richard Moloney • Council Member Chuck Ellinger • Council Member James Brown • Council Member Josh McCurn • Council Member Susan Lamb • Council Member Preston Worley • Council Member Fred Brown • Council Member Amanda Bledsoe • Council Member Kathy Plomin • Council Member Hannah LeGris • Council Member Liz Sheehan • Council Member David Kloiber • Council Member Whitney Baxter • Council Member Jennifer Reynolds

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with all 16 council members participating.

Votes and Decisions

The council took three unanimous votes during the February 23, 2021 meeting, with all 16 members present voting in favor of each motion.

Motion to Add Docket Item 10:00 Council Member James Brown motioned to add an item to the February 25, 2021 council meeting docket regarding Exxon Enterprise as a sole source provider for body worn cameras. Council Member Preston Worley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with 16 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Mayor Linda Gorton, Vice Mayor Steve Kay, and Council Members Richard Moloney, Chuck Ellinger, James Brown, Josh McCurn, Susan Lamb, Preston Worley, Fred Brown, Amanda Bledsoe, Kathy Plomin, Hannah LeGris, Liz Sheehan, David Kloiber, Whitney Baxter, and Jennifer Reynolds.

Approval of February 9 Summary 15:00 Council Member Kathy Plomin motioned to approve the February 9 summary, with Vice Mayor Steve Kay providing the second. The motion passed unanimously with 16 ayes and 0 nays. The same 16 council members voted in favor of this motion.

Budget Amendments Approval 20:00 Council Member Susan Lamb motioned to approve budget amendments, seconded by Council Member Whitney Baxter. This motion also passed unanimously with 16 ayes and 0 nays, with all council members voting in favor.

All three votes demonstrated complete consensus among the council members, with no opposition or abstentions recorded for any of the motions considered during this meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two financial items requiring council authorization.

Contract Change Order Authorization

The council considered authorization to execute change order #1 for the James Lane Culvert repair project (Item 0152-21). The change order would increase the contract amount by $19,571.60 to Allen Company, Inc., the contractor performing the culvert repair work. This represents an adjustment to the original contract scope for the infrastructure project.

Emergency Management Resolution

The council reviewed a resolution to establish the National Incident Management System (NIMS) during emergencies or disasters (Item 0158-21). This resolution carries no budgetary impact, as it establishes operational protocols rather than authorizing expenditures. The NIMS framework provides standardized procedures for emergency response coordination at the local government level.

Both items were presented for council consideration as part of the meeting's financial business.

Public Comment

The public comment portion of the February 23, 2021 meeting included one item presented by a council member.

Walk-on Item Introduction

Council Member James Brown introduced a walk-on item during this portion of the meeting 5:00. The item concerned a resolution that would authorize the approval of Exxon Enterprise as a sole source provider for body worn cameras. Brown presented this as an addition to the meeting agenda that required consideration.

No other public speakers addressed the council during the designated public comment period.

Public Comment

0:00

The meeting opened with a public comment period where local officials discussed the implications of recent federal legislation changes on municipal tax policy.

Key Speakers: - Mayor Linda Gorton - Council Member James Brown

Discussion Topics: The primary focus of the public comment session centered on how recent federal legislative changes would impact local tax structures and municipal revenue streams. Mayor Gorton and Council Member Brown engaged in discussion regarding these federal policy shifts and their potential effects on the city's fiscal operations.

Outcome: This agenda item was informational in nature, serving as an opportunity for elected officials to share perspectives on federal policy impacts rather than taking any formal action. No specific decisions or votes were recorded during this portion of the meeting.

The discussion provided a forum for addressing concerns about the intersection of federal and local tax policy, though the extracted data does not include specific details about which federal legislation was referenced or the particular tax implications discussed.

Budget Amendments

20:00

The council discussed several budget amendments during the February 23, 2021 meeting, focusing on fund reallocations and utility budget adjustments.

Key speakers included Council Member Chuck Ellinger and Commissioner Erin Hensley, who presented the proposed amendments to the council for consideration.

The discussion centered on two main areas:

• Road Salt Fund Reallocation: The council addressed the need to reallocate funds specifically for road salt purchases, likely in response to winter weather conditions that required additional resources for road maintenance and safety.

• Utility Budget Savings: The council examined savings identified within utility budgets, discussing how these funds could be redistributed or applied to other municipal needs.

The amendments represented routine budget adjustments that municipalities typically make throughout the fiscal year to address changing operational needs and optimize resource allocation. These types of mid-year budget modifications allow local governments to respond to unexpected expenses or take advantage of cost savings in certain departments.

The council ultimately approved the budget amendments as presented, allowing the proposed fund reallocations to move forward. This approval enables the municipality to proceed with the adjusted spending priorities, including the enhanced road salt budget and the reallocation of utility savings.

The discussion appeared to be procedural in nature, with the amendments receiving council support without significant debate or opposition noted in the available materials.