Committee of the Whole - Budget COW

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council held a meeting on May 25, 2021, at 10:00 AM via video teleconference, with Councilmember McCurn presiding. The meeting focused on receiving informational reports from two council committees, with no legislative action taken. The council heard two informational presentations: the General Government Link Report and the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Link Report. Two motions were made during the meeting, though both agenda items were informational in nature rather than requiring formal votes on legislation. No public comments were received during this session.

Attendance

All twelve councilmembers were present for the May 25, 2021 meeting.

Present: • Councilmember McCurn • Councilmember Moloney • Councilmember Sheehan • Councilmember Brown • Councilmember Worley • Councilmember Bledsoe • Councilmember Reynolds • Councilmember Plomin • Councilmember Lamb • Councilmember LeGris • Councilmember Baxter • Councilmember James Brown

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting, both related to staffing positions and funded through budget stabilization.

Citizen's Advocate Position Expansion 1:30:00

Councilmember McCurn motioned to increase the Citizen's Advocate position from 20 to 25 hours, with a second from Councilmember Sheehan. The motion passed by a vote of 10-2, with funding to come from budget stabilization.

Voting in favor: • Councilmember McCurn • Councilmember Sheehan • Councilmember Brown • Councilmember Worley • Councilmember Bledsoe • Councilmember Reynolds • Councilmember Plomin • Councilmember Lamb • Councilmember LeGris • Councilmember Baxter

Voting against: • Councilmember Moloney • Councilmember Fred Brown

Sustainability Coordinator Position 2:15:00

Vice Mayor Kay motioned to add a Sustainability Coordinator position, seconded by Councilmember Sheehan. The motion passed by a narrower margin of 8-4, with funding also designated to come from budget stabilization.

Voting in favor: • Vice Mayor Kay • Councilmember Sheehan • Councilmember Brown • Councilmember Worley • Councilmember Bledsoe • Councilmember Reynolds • Councilmember Plomin • Councilmember LeGris

Voting against: • Councilmember McCurn • Councilmember Moloney • Councilmember Fred Brown • Councilmember Baxter

Both approved positions will be funded through the city's budget stabilization fund.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two appropriation items totaling $24,000 for municipal infrastructure improvements.

Solar-Powered Pedestrian Crossing Signs The council considered funding of $14,000 for four solar-powered pedestrian crossing signs. No specific vendor or recipient was identified in the available materials, and no resolution number was provided for this appropriation.

Shillito Park Improvements A second appropriation of $10,000 was discussed for the purchase of five park benches at Shillito Park. Like the pedestrian crossing signs, no vendor or recipient information was specified in the available documentation, and no resolution identifier was provided.

Both items represent capital expenditures for public safety and recreational infrastructure improvements within the municipality. The combined $24,000 in appropriations would enhance pedestrian safety through improved crossing visibility and expand seating capacity at the community park facility.

*Note: Specific resolution numbers, vendor information, and transcript timestamps were not available in the source materials for these financial items.*

Contested Items

The May 25, 2021 meeting featured two significant contested items that resulted in split votes among council members.

Citizen's Advocate Position Funding

The council engaged in debate over how to fund an increase for the Citizen's Advocate position. The primary disagreement centered on the funding source, with members split between using budget stabilization funds versus NDF (presumably Non-Departmental Funds) to cover the position increase. This funding mechanism debate resulted in a split vote, indicating significant division among council members regarding the appropriate budgetary approach for this personnel expense.

Sustainability Coordinator Position

A second contentious issue involved the creation and funding of a new Sustainability Coordinator position. Council members were divided on multiple aspects of this proposal, including whether the position was necessary and, if approved, what funding source should be used to support it. The debate encompassed both the merits of establishing this new role within the city's organizational structure and the financial implications of adding another staff position. Like the Citizen's Advocate funding issue, this item also resulted in a split vote, demonstrating the council's lack of consensus on expanding environmental sustainability staffing.

Both contested items reflect broader tensions within the council regarding personnel decisions and budgetary priorities. The split votes on these matters suggest fundamental disagreements among members about staffing needs, funding mechanisms, and potentially the city's priorities in areas of citizen advocacy and environmental sustainability initiatives.

*Note: Specific vote tallies, individual council member positions, and transcript timestamps were not available in the provided meeting data.*

General Government Link Report

10:00

Councilmember McCurn presented the General Government Link Report during the May 25, 2021 meeting. The presentation focused on the committee's review of the Mayor's proposed budget for various municipal offices and departments.

McCurn recommended that the council accept the Mayor's proposed budget allocations for the offices under the General Government Link's purview. The presentation covered budget recommendations for multiple city departments and administrative functions.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the Citizen's Advocate position. McCurn addressed questions and provided details about this role within the city's organizational structure, though specific details about the position's responsibilities or budget allocation were not elaborated upon in the available materials.

The General Government Link Report served as an informational presentation to update the council on the committee's budget review process and recommendations. As a link committee report, this agenda item was designed to facilitate communication between the specialized committee and the full council regarding budgetary matters under their jurisdiction.

The presentation concluded with McCurn's formal recommendation for the council to accept the Mayor's proposed budget for the offices reviewed by the General Government Link committee. No formal vote or action was taken during this agenda item, as it was structured as an informational report to keep council members informed of the committee's work and recommendations.

Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Link Report

1:00:00 Councilmember Worley presented the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Link Report during the May 25, 2021 meeting. The presentation focused on current budget changes and departmental staffing needs.

During the report, Councilmember Worley highlighted various budget modifications and provided updates on the city's financial status. A key recommendation emerged from the presentation regarding staffing in the Planning Department.

Councilmember Worley specifically recommended the addition of an Administrative Officer position within the Planning Department. This staffing proposal was presented as part of the broader budget considerations and departmental needs assessment.

The report served an informational purpose, providing council members and the public with updates on the city's budget status and related economic development matters. No formal action was taken on the recommendations during this presentation, as the item was structured as a reporting mechanism rather than a decision-making agenda item.

The link report format allows for coordination between the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development functions, ensuring that council members receive comprehensive updates on interconnected financial and development issues affecting the city.