Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council held a virtual meeting on May 6, 2021, at 6:00 PM, presided over by Mayor Gorton. The council addressed two main agenda items during the session, including a recognition ceremony and consideration of significant legislation. The meeting featured three public comments from community members and resulted in two formal votes by the council. Key accomplishments included an informational recognition of the UK Rifle Team and the approval of an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy, marking important legislative action for the community.

Attendance

The following members were present at the May 6, 2021 meeting:

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

Absent: • Bledsoe

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 14 members were in attendance, with one member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included two roll call votes, both of which passed unanimously.

Ordinance 0259-21 - Prohibiting conversion therapy to minors 3:00 Motion by Lamb, seconded by Ellinger. The ordinance passed with a vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All 14 council members voted in favor: Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Baxter, F. Brown, and J. Brown.

Resolution 0328-21 - Water Monitoring at Haley Pike Landfill 5:00 Motion by Ellinger, seconded by Kay. The resolution passed with a vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All 14 council members voted in favor: Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Baxter, F. Brown, and J. Brown.

Both measures received unanimous support from all present council members, with no opposition or abstentions recorded for either vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts totaling $145,200 in expenditures.

Environmental Monitoring Contract The council considered Resolution 0328-21 for a $45,200 contract with Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions Inc. for water monitoring services at the Haley Pike Landfill. This contract addresses ongoing environmental compliance requirements for the landfill facility.

Juvenile Services Program Resolution 0329-21 involved a $100,000 contract with You Matter Ky!, Inc. for the Juvenile Treatment Court Program. This substantial investment supports specialized court services designed to address juvenile cases through treatment-focused interventions rather than traditional punitive measures.

Both contracts represent significant financial commitments by the jurisdiction, with the juvenile treatment program representing the larger of the two expenditures. The environmental monitoring contract reflects ongoing regulatory obligations for waste management facilities, while the juvenile program contract demonstrates investment in alternative justice approaches for young offenders.

The combined $145,200 in contracted services spans both environmental compliance and social services sectors, indicating diverse municipal responsibilities and spending priorities.

Public Comment

Three community members addressed the council during the public comment period, all focusing on police accountability and reform measures.

April Taylor 1:00 spoke about the need for police accountability and transparency. She emphasized the importance of releasing body camera footage promptly as a key component of ensuring law enforcement transparency.

Emma Anderson 1:30 addressed police accountability and funding priorities. Anderson highlighted specific incidents involving police and stressed the importance of funding alternative response programs, specifically mentioning the Paramedicine Program and New Vista Crisis Response Team as essential services that should receive adequate funding.

James Woodhead 2:00 focused his comments on no-knock warrants. Woodhead expressed strong support for banning no-knock warrants and voiced concern about potential amendments that might weaken the proposed ordinance.

All three speakers centered their remarks on police reform and accountability measures, representing a unified public interest in these issues during this meeting period.

Appointments

The meeting included action on two reappointments to municipal boards and commissions.

Board of Health • Lee Dossett was reappointed to the Board of Health

Environmental Commission • Mason Bishop was reappointed to the Environmental Commission

Both appointments involved reappointments of existing members to continue their service on their respective boards. No additional details about term lengths or voting results were provided in the available meeting materials.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the May 6, 2021 meeting centered on no-knock warrants and proposed ordinance provisions regarding law enforcement procedures.

No-Knock Warrants Debate

Several members of the public voiced strong opposition to no-knock warrants during the public comment period. Community members urged the council to incorporate a mandatory wait-time provision into the ordinance under consideration. The opposition reflected broader community concerns about police practices and public safety procedures.

The disagreement focused on whether the proposed ordinance should include specific timing requirements before law enforcement could execute warrants without prior announcement. Public commenters advocated for adding protective measures that would require officers to wait a specified period before entering premises, even when executing no-knock warrants.

The nature of the opposition was characterized as community-driven, with residents expressing concerns about current warrant execution procedures and seeking stronger safeguards in the proposed legislation. The public comments represented a call for the council to strengthen the ordinance beyond its current form to include additional procedural requirements.

The outcome of this contested issue was not specified in the available meeting data, leaving the resolution of the no-knock warrant provisions unclear from the provided information.

Recognition of the UK Rifle Team

0:30

The council recognized the University of Kentucky Rifle Team for winning the 2021 NCAA Rifle National Championship during agenda item 0476-21. Mayor Gorton presented the recognition to the team and coaching staff.

Coach Mullins addressed the council on behalf of the team, expressing pride in the championship victory and gratitude for the city's support. The coach highlighted the team's dedication and hard work throughout the season that led to their national title.

Team members were present at the meeting to receive the recognition alongside their coaching staff. The presentation served as an informational item to celebrate the team's achievement and acknowledge their representation of the university and community on a national stage.

The recognition concluded without formal council action, as this was a ceremonial presentation to honor the rifle team's NCAA championship success.

Ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy

3:00

The council considered Ordinance 0259-21, which would prohibit conversion therapy practices within the jurisdiction. The ordinance specifically targets mental health professionals, preventing them from engaging in conversion therapy with minors, and includes provisions prohibiting the use of public funds for such practices.

Councilmember Lamb served as a key speaker during the discussion of this agenda item. The ordinance addresses the controversial practice of conversion therapy, which attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity through various therapeutic interventions.

The proposed legislation focuses on two main prohibitions: first, it would prevent licensed mental health professionals from providing conversion therapy services to minors, and second, it would ensure that no public funds could be allocated toward supporting or funding conversion therapy programs or services.

The council ultimately approved Ordinance 0259-21, adding the municipality to the growing number of jurisdictions that have enacted similar protections. The ordinance represents a policy position that conversion therapy practices directed at minors are harmful and should not be permitted by licensed professionals or supported with taxpayer funds.

The approval of this ordinance establishes clear legal boundaries around conversion therapy practices while specifically protecting minors from these interventions. The legislation also ensures fiscal responsibility by preventing public resources from being directed toward conversion therapy programs.