Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened virtually on April 22, 2021, at 6:00 PM with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The meeting addressed two primary agenda items, including a recognition ceremony and budget amendments for municipal expenditures.

During the session, the council conducted two formal votes and heard from two members of the public during the comment period. The meeting included both ceremonial and substantive business, with the council recognizing Pastor Richard Gaines and Consolidated Baptist Church for their community contributions, which served as an informational presentation. The primary legislative action involved approving amendments to budgets for municipal expenditures, which received council approval.

The virtual format allowed for public participation while maintaining safety protocols, with community members able to provide input on matters before the council. Mayor Gorton guided the proceedings through both the recognition ceremony and the budget-related discussions that comprised the evening's business.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on April 22, 2021:

Present: • Mayor Gorton • J. Brown • Ellinger • Kay • Kloiber • Lamb • LeGris • McCurn • Moloney • Plomin • Reynolds • Sheehan • Worley • Baxter • Bledsoe • F. Brown

All 16 members were in attendance with no absences or late arrivals recorded for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included two unanimous votes on municipal matters.

Ordinance 0381-21 6:24 - Amending certain budgets for municipal expenditures, FY 2021 Schedule No. 43, was motioned by Ellinger and seconded by McCurn. The ordinance passed by roll call vote with 15 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All members voted in favor: J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Baxter, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

Resolution 0330-21 6:24 - Accepting bids for mattresses for the Division of Community Corrections, was motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Plomin. The resolution passed by roll call vote with 15 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All members voted in favor: J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Baxter, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

Both items received unanimous support from all 15 members present, with no opposition or abstentions recorded on either vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial items requiring council approval.

Stormwater Infrastructure Contract The council considered Resolution 0350-21 authorizing a contract with Independent Contractors Distribution, Inc. for Bellcastle Road stormwater improvements totaling $171,722.90. This infrastructure project addresses drainage issues in the Bellcastle Road area.

Family Care Center Grant Resolution 0305-21 involves accepting a $324,000 grant from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services designated for the Family Care Center. This substantial grant funding will support family services operations and programming.

The two financial actions represent a combined total of $495,722.90 in municipal expenditures and grant funding, with the stormwater project requiring city funds through the contractor agreement and the Family Care Center receiving state grant support.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the council during the public comment period.

Danielle Skelly spoke in support of the ordinance to ban conversion therapy 6:03. Skelly emphasized the importance of supporting LGBTQ youth and urged the council to pass the proposed ordinance banning conversion therapy practices.

Amy Clark raised concerns about deed restrictions on a property 6:13. Clark expressed opposition to the removal of deed restrictions, citing inadequate public notice and lack of community engagement in the process. She argued that the public had not been properly informed about the proposed changes to the property restrictions.

The public comment period covered two distinct issues: LGBTQ rights protections and property development concerns, reflecting diverse community interests and priorities before the council.

Appointments

The meeting included two appointments to city boards and commissions.

Administrative Hearing Board • Joe Buckles was reappointed to the Administrative Hearing Board

Arboretum Advisory Board • Tina Nance was appointed to the Arboretum Advisory Board

These appointments represent the city's ongoing efforts to maintain active citizen participation in municipal governance through various advisory bodies and administrative functions.

Contested Items

The April 22, 2021 meeting featured one primary contested item that drew community attention and debate.

Ordinance Banning Conversion Therapy

The proposed ordinance to ban conversion therapy emerged as a contentious issue during the meeting, reflecting divided community perspectives on the matter. While the ordinance received public support from some community members, it also faced opposition from others with differing views on the practice and the government's role in regulating it.

The disagreement centered on fundamental questions about conversion therapy practices and whether local government should prohibit such activities within the jurisdiction. Supporters of the ban argued for protecting individuals, particularly minors, from what they characterized as harmful practices. Those opposing the ordinance raised concerns about regulatory overreach and differing interpretations of the therapy practices in question.

The nature of the opposition was characterized as community-based, indicating that residents and stakeholders held varying positions on the proposed legislation. This type of community division on social policy issues often reflects broader cultural and ideological differences within the population.

The extracted data indicates that despite the contentious nature of the topic, the ordinance did receive public support during the meeting proceedings. However, the specific outcome of the vote or final disposition of the ordinance is not detailed in the available information.

This contested item demonstrates how local governments often grapple with socially sensitive issues that divide community opinion, requiring elected officials to navigate competing viewpoints while making policy decisions that affect their constituents.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and additional details about speakers, vote counts, or final outcomes were not available in the provided source materials.*

Recognition of Pastor Richard Gaines and Consolidated Baptist Church

6:20

The city recognized Pastor Richard Gaines and Consolidated Baptist Church for their significant contributions to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic through agenda item 0275-21.

Mayor Gorton led the recognition ceremony, highlighting the church's exceptional service during the health crisis. The primary focus of the recognition was the church's role in hosting vaccination clinics, which provided crucial access to COVID-19 vaccines for community members.

Pastor Richard Gaines was present to receive the recognition on behalf of Consolidated Baptist Church. Kevin Hall also participated in the presentation, though his specific role was not detailed in the available information.

The recognition acknowledged how the church stepped up during a critical time when the community needed additional vaccination sites and healthcare access points. By hosting vaccination clinics, Consolidated Baptist Church helped expand the city's capacity to deliver vaccines to residents during the pandemic response efforts.

This was an informational presentation with no action items or decisions required from the governing body. The recognition served to formally acknowledge and thank Pastor Gaines and his congregation for their community service and partnership with public health efforts during the COVID-19 emergency.

The presentation highlighted the important role that faith-based organizations played in supporting public health initiatives and community welfare during the pandemic, demonstrating effective collaboration between religious institutions and local government in addressing public health challenges.

Amending Budgets for Municipal Expenditures

6:24

The council considered Ordinance 0381-21, which would amend certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures.

Council members Ellinger and McCurn participated in the discussion of this budget amendment ordinance. The measure was designed to adjust existing municipal budgets to align with current operational needs and expenditure requirements.

The ordinance was approved by the council, allowing the necessary budget modifications to proceed. The specific details of which budget categories were amended and the amounts involved were not detailed in the available materials, but the measure represents routine budget management to ensure municipal operations can continue to meet current demands.

This type of budget amendment ordinance is typically used to reallocate funds between different municipal departments or programs, or to adjust spending authority based on changing circumstances or updated revenue projections during the fiscal year.