Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Urban County Council convened virtually on June 10, 2021, at 6:00 PM, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the meeting. The council addressed three agenda items during the session, including the approval of previous meeting minutes, a zoning matter, and budget considerations for the upcoming fiscal year.

The council took three votes during the meeting and heard from three members of the public during the comment period. Key accomplishments included the approval of minutes from the May 27, 2021 council meeting and the approval of a zone change for property located at 750 East New Circle Road. Additionally, the council conducted the first reading of an ordinance appropriating revenues and expenditures for fiscal year 2022, moving the budget process forward for further consideration.

Attendance

The following members were present at the June 10, 2021 meeting:

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

Absent: • McCurn • Worley

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted three formal votes during the June 10, 2021 meeting, all of which passed with strong support from members.

Approval of Minutes 2:00 Ms. Plomin motioned to approve the Minutes of the May 27, 2021 Council Meeting, seconded by Vice Mayor Kay. The motion passed unanimously with all 13 members voting in favor: Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Kay.

Second Reading of Ordinances 3:00 Mr. Ellinger motioned for the second reading of various ordinances, with Vice Mayor Kay providing the second. The motion passed by roll call vote with all 13 members voting yes. The supporting votes came from Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Kay, with no opposing votes.

Resolution 0539-21: Water Fountain Installation 13:00 Ms. Lamb motioned to accept Resolution 0539-21 regarding the bid for Water Fountain Installation, seconded by Ms. Baxter. The resolution passed by roll call vote with 13 members voting in favor and 1 abstention. The yes votes were cast by Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Kay. No members voted against the resolution.

All three votes demonstrated broad Council consensus, with no opposing votes recorded on any item. The water fountain installation resolution was the only vote that included an abstention, though the abstaining member was not specifically identified in the voting record.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial contracts totaling $152,262 for infrastructure improvements and equipment installations.

Water Infrastructure Projects

The council approved Resolution 0465-21, authorizing a $62,500 contract with Herrick Co., Inc. for the installation of stainless steel slide gates at Town Branch. This project represents the largest single expenditure among the approved items.

Additionally, Resolution 0473-21 was passed, approving a $56,750 contract with Herrick Co., Inc. for water strainer replacement at the West Hickman Waste Water Treatment Plant. This maintenance project addresses critical equipment needs at the facility.

Recreation Facility Enhancement

The council also approved Resolution 0539-21, which authorizes a $33,012 contract with WPC Co., Inc. for water fountain installation. This project focuses on improving public amenities and accessibility to drinking water facilities.

Vendor Relationships

Notably, Herrick Co., Inc. received two of the three contracts, totaling $119,250 for water infrastructure work. The company's involvement in both the Town Branch slide gate installation and the West Hickman treatment plant equipment replacement demonstrates their role as a key contractor for the municipality's water system projects.

All three resolutions represent capital improvements to the community's water infrastructure and recreational facilities, with the combined expenditure of $152,262 reflecting the council's commitment to maintaining and upgrading essential public services and amenities.

Public Comment

Three speakers addressed the council during the public comment period 1:00.

April Taylor spoke in support of the proposed ordinance banning no-knock warrants. Taylor emphasized the importance of police reform and accountability measures in her remarks to the council.

Madden Miller Jr. presented information about plans to establish a GED Program at local community centers. Miller requested the council's assistance in acquiring pre-test GED study books to support the educational initiative.

Kentucky State Senator Reginald Thomas also voiced his support for the ordinance banning no-knock warrants. Thomas cited the inherent dangers associated with no-knock warrant executions as justification for the proposed ban.

The public comment period focused primarily on two key issues: police reform through the no-knock warrant ban, which received support from two speakers, and educational programming through the proposed GED initiative at community centers.

Appointments

The meeting included three appointments to various boards and organizations [timestamp: not provided].

The following appointments were made:

• Danielle Sander was appointed to the Black & Williams Neighborhood Center Board

• Raquel Carter was reappointed to the Board of Adjustment

• Zachary Brien was appointed to CASA of Lexington

These appointments represent the city's ongoing efforts to fill positions on various municipal boards and community organizations that serve the public interest.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the June 10, 2021 meeting was an ordinance proposing a ban on no-knock warrants. However, the contention was not characterized by opposition to the measure, but rather by significant community advocacy in favor of its passage.

Multiple members of the public spoke during the meeting to express their support for the no-knock warrant ban ordinance. The speakers advocated strongly for the council to approve the measure, demonstrating substantial community backing for this police reform initiative.

The nature of the discussion suggests this was a policy matter that had generated considerable public interest and engagement, with residents actively participating in the democratic process to voice their support for what they viewed as an important public safety reform.

*Note: Specific timestamp information and the final outcome of the vote were not available in the provided meeting data.*

Minutes of the May 27, 2021 Council Meeting

2:00

The council considered Ordinance 0589-21 regarding the approval of minutes from the May 27, 2021 Council Meeting. This agenda item involved the standard procedural review of the previous meeting's official record.

Ms. Plomin and Vice Mayor Kay were the key speakers who addressed this item during the proceedings. The discussion focused on the formal approval process for the meeting minutes without requiring a full reading of the document.

The council followed standard parliamentary procedure for handling meeting minutes, which typically involves a motion to approve the minutes as presented or with any necessary corrections. No significant concerns or objections were raised regarding the accuracy or completeness of the May 27, 2021 meeting record.

The ordinance was approved by the council, completing the formal adoption of the previous meeting's minutes into the official record. This approval ensures that the May 27, 2021 meeting proceedings are properly documented and preserved as part of the municipal government's permanent records.

The efficient handling of this agenda item reflects routine council business, with the minutes being accepted without the need for a detailed reading, indicating general satisfaction with the accuracy of the recorded proceedings from the previous meeting.

Zone Change for 750 East New Circle Rd.

3:00

The council considered Ordinance 0511-21, which proposed changing the zoning classification for the property at 750 East New Circle Road from Highway Service Business (B-3) to Wholesale and Warehouse Business (B-4).

Mr. Ellinger presented the zone change request during the meeting discussion. Vice Mayor Kay also participated in the deliberations regarding this zoning matter.

The ordinance sought to reclassify the property to allow for wholesale and warehouse business operations, which would be permitted under the B-4 zoning designation but may have different restrictions under the current B-3 Highway Service Business classification.

The council ultimately approved the zone change ordinance, allowing the property at 750 East New Circle Road to be rezoned from B-3 to B-4 classification.

Appropriating Revenues and Expenditures for FY 2022

4:00

The council considered Ordinance 0585-21, which appropriates revenues, expenditures, and interfund transfers for various municipal funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.

Ms. Bledsoe and Ms. Plomin served as the key speakers during the presentation and discussion of this budget ordinance. The ordinance establishes the financial framework for the upcoming fiscal year by formally authorizing the city's spending plan and revenue projections across multiple fund categories.

The agenda item represents the annual budget appropriation process, which legally authorizes the city to collect revenues and make expenditures according to the adopted budget. This includes interfund transfers that move money between different municipal accounts as needed for operations.

The ordinance received its first reading during this meeting, which is the initial step in the formal adoption process. First reading allows council members and the public to review the proposed appropriations before final consideration and voting in subsequent meetings.

No specific concerns or debate details were captured in the available meeting data, though the appropriation ordinance typically covers major municipal functions including public safety, infrastructure, utilities, and administrative operations. The fiscal year 2022 budget would govern city spending from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.

Following standard municipal procedures, the ordinance will require additional readings and formal votes before final adoption and implementation.