Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened virtually on February 25, 2021, at 6:00 PM with Mayor Gorton presiding over the meeting. The council addressed three agenda items during the session, including a presentation recognizing Euphrates Partnership for Youth Essay Contest Winners and consideration of two administrative matters requiring council action.

The council took two votes during the meeting, approving both an amendment to the FY 2021 budget (Schedule No. 34) and an agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky. Additionally, the meeting featured an informational presentation highlighting the achievements of local youth essay contest winners from the Euphrates Partnership program.

Two members of the public provided comments during the designated public comment period. The virtual format allowed for continued civic engagement while maintaining public health protocols during the ongoing pandemic.

Attendance

Present: Reynolds, Sheehan, Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin

Initially Absent: J. Brown, Worley

Arrived Late: J. Brown, Worley

The meeting began with 13 members present. J. Brown and Worley were initially absent but arrived late during the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the February 25, 2021 meeting, both passing with strong support.

Ordinance 0175-21 3:00 Council member Ellinger motioned to approve Ordinance 0175-21, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for FY 2021 Schedule No. 34. The motion was seconded by Lamb. The ordinance passed unanimously on a roll call vote with 15 ayes and 0 nays.

Council members voting in favor were: • Reynolds • Sheehan • Worley • Baxter • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Kay • Kloiber • Lamb • LeGris • McCurn • Moloney • Plomin

Resolution 0147-21 4:00 Ellinger also motioned to approve Resolution 0147-21, an agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky for relocation of utilities for the Town Branch Trail Phase 6 Project. Kay seconded the motion. The resolution passed on a roll call vote with 14 ayes and 1 nay.

Council members voting in favor were: • Reynolds • Sheehan • Worley • Baxter • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Kay • Kloiber • Lamb • LeGris • McCurn • Plomin

Moloney cast the sole dissenting vote against the resolution.

Both items were decided by roll call votes with no abstentions recorded. The budget amendment received unanimous support, while the utility relocation agreement for the trail project had broad support with only one opposing vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial items totaling $492,603.99 in expenditures and grant funding.

Office Space Lease Agreement The council considered Resolution 0111-21, approving a lease agreement with Winmar Corporation for office space totaling $385,479.60. This represents the largest financial commitment discussed during the meeting.

Construction Contract Amendment Resolution 0119-21 authorized Change Order No. One to the existing agreement with Connhurst, LLC, adding $27,124.39 for construction adjustments. This amendment modifies the scope of work under the original contract with the construction company.

Drug Enforcement Grant The council reviewed Resolution 0120-21, which accepts an $80,000 grant from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for the Street Sales Drug Enforcement Project. The grant funds will be administered through the Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to support local drug enforcement initiatives.

These three resolutions encompass a mix of operational expenses, capital improvements, and external funding that will impact the jurisdiction's budget and services. The lease agreement represents ongoing operational costs, while the construction change order addresses project modifications, and the grant provides additional resources for public safety programs without requiring local matching funds.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the council during the public comment period, both focusing on concerns related to the police collective bargaining agreement.

Emma Anderson 1:00 spoke about police accountability and transparency issues surrounding the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the city and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Anderson emphasized the importance of ensuring accountability measures are included in the agreement and called for greater public input in the bargaining process.

Garrett Gabriel 2:00 provided more specific commentary on the Police CBA, focusing on particular sections of the document that he identified as problematic. Gabriel highlighted concerns about discrimination issues and the treatment of protected classes within the collective bargaining agreement language.

Both speakers' comments centered on the ongoing negotiations or review of the police union contract, indicating this was a significant issue of public interest at the time of the meeting.

Appointments

The meeting included three appointments to various advisory boards and committees.

Emergency Medical Advisory Board • Timothy Anderson was appointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board • Eric Reid was appointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board

Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board • Chris Clark was appointed to the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board

All three appointments were approved during the February 25, 2021 meeting. The Emergency Medical Advisory Board received two new members, while the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board gained one additional member through these appointments.

Contested Items

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

Agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky

The primary point of contention involved a resolution regarding an agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky for utility relocation services. While the specific details of the utility relocation project were not elaborated upon in the available materials, the proposal generated enough disagreement to result in a divided vote.

Council member Moloney cast the sole dissenting vote against the resolution, while the remaining council members supported the measure. The resolution ultimately passed despite Moloney's opposition, though the transcript does not include the specific reasoning behind the dissenting vote or detailed discussion of the concerns raised.

The nature of utility relocation agreements typically involves coordination between municipal governments and utility companies to move gas lines, water mains, or other infrastructure to accommodate public works projects, development, or safety requirements. Such agreements often include provisions for cost-sharing, timelines, and technical specifications for the relocation work.

The split vote suggests there may have been disagreement over the terms of the agreement, the financial implications for the municipality, or the necessity of the utility relocation project itself. However, without additional context from the meeting discussion, the specific basis for Moloney's opposition remains unclear from the available materials.

Despite the dissenting vote, the resolution's passage indicates that the majority of the council found the agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky to be acceptable and in the municipality's interest.

Euphrates Partnership for Youth Essay Contest Winners

3:00

The council recognized winners of an essay contest focused on improving racial equality in Lexington during agenda item 0151-21. The contest was organized through a partnership between Euphrates International Investment Company and Partners for Youth.

Mayor Gorton participated in the presentation alongside key speakers Erran Persley and Briana Persley, who appeared to be involved in either the organization of the contest or among the winners being recognized.

The essay contest asked participants to address the important topic of advancing racial equality within the Lexington community. This initiative represented a collaborative effort between the private sector, through Euphrates International Investment Company, and the youth-focused nonprofit Partners for Youth to engage young people in meaningful dialogue about social justice issues.

The agenda item served as an informational presentation to acknowledge the contest winners and highlight their contributions to the conversation about racial equality in the city. The recognition provided a platform for celebrating youth engagement in addressing critical community issues and demonstrated the council's support for initiatives that encourage civic participation among young residents.

This presentation was part of the council's broader commitment to recognizing community partnerships and youth involvement in addressing social challenges facing Lexington.

Amending Budgets for FY 2021 Schedule No. 34

3:00

The council considered Ordinance 0175-21, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for Fiscal Year 2021 Schedule No. 34. The ordinance was designed to adjust municipal budgets to reflect current requirements for expenditures.

Key speakers during the discussion included Ellinger and Lamb, who presented the budget amendments to the council. The ordinance represents routine budget adjustments that local governments typically make throughout the fiscal year to accommodate changing operational needs and expenditure requirements.

The budget amendments outlined in Schedule No. 34 were presented as necessary modifications to ensure the Urban County Government's financial operations align with current municipal spending requirements. These types of mid-year budget adjustments are standard practice for local governments to maintain fiscal flexibility and respond to evolving operational demands.

The council approved Ordinance 0175-21 without significant debate or opposition, indicating the amendments were viewed as necessary administrative adjustments rather than controversial policy changes. The approval allows the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to proceed with the revised budget allocations as outlined in the ordinance.

Agreement with Columbia Gas of Ky.

The council considered Resolution 0147-21, which authorizes an agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky for utility relocation related to the Town Branch Trail Phase 6 Project 4:00.

The resolution was presented to address the necessary relocation of gas utilities that would be impacted by the construction of Phase 6 of the Town Branch Trail. Key speakers during the discussion included council members Ellinger and Kay, who provided input on the agreement terms and project requirements.

The agreement establishes the framework for Columbia Gas of Kentucky to relocate their utility infrastructure to accommodate the trail construction while ensuring continued service to customers in the affected area. This utility relocation work is a standard requirement for major infrastructure projects like the Town Branch Trail expansion.

The resolution was approved by the council, allowing the city to move forward with finalizing the agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky. This approval represents another step in the progression of the Town Branch Trail Phase 6 Project, ensuring that necessary utility coordination is completed before construction activities begin.

The Town Branch Trail system serves as an important recreational and transportation corridor for the community, and Phase 6 represents a continued expansion of this network. The utility relocation agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky demonstrates the collaborative approach required between the city and utility providers to successfully implement major infrastructure improvements.