Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on July 6, 2021, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The council addressed a comprehensive 10-item agenda that included both routine administrative matters and substantive policy discussions. During the meeting, the council conducted 6 formal votes on various motions, with several key items receiving approval including the meeting summary, budget amendments, and new business proposals. The council heard from 2 members of the public during designated comment periods, allowing community input on both agenda items and general issues of concern. The session covered standard council business including rezoning requests, budget matters, council and mayoral reports, and concluded with formal adjournment.

Attendance

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

• Kay
• Moloney
• Ellinger
• J. Brown
• McCurn
• LeGris
• Lamb
• Sheehan
• Kloiber
• F. Brown
• Bledsoe
• Reynolds
• Plomin

Two members were absent from the meeting:

• Worley
• Baxter

No members arrived late to the meeting.

A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included six motions, all of which passed unanimously.

Administrative Motions • McCurn motioned to approve the June 22, 2021 table of motions, seconded by Kathy Plomin. The motion passed unanimously. • Kay motioned for approval of new business, seconded by McCurn. The motion passed unanimously.

Small Business Economic Recovery Program • Bledsoe motioned to move forward with the second tranche of funding of $2.5 million for the Small Business Economic Recovery Program, seconded by Sheehan. The motion passed unanimously.

Closed Session • McCurn motioned to go into closed session pursuant to KRS 61.810 (1)(b) and (g), seconded by Ellinger. The motion passed unanimously. • Kay motioned to return from closed session, seconded by McCurn. The motion passed unanimously.

Adjournment • Kay motioned for adjournment, seconded by Jennifer Reynolds. The motion passed unanimously.

All votes were recorded as unanimous, though specific vote counts and individual member positions were not documented in the available records. No transcript timestamps were available for these voting actions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council addressed multiple financial items totaling over $16.6 million in contracts, grants, and bond measures during the July 6, 2021 meeting.

Major Contracts and Agreements: - L0615-21: Approved Purchase of Service agreements totaling $1,540,919 with six Extended Social Resource Program Grantees: Hope Center, Inc., GreenHouse17, Community Action Council, Arbor Youth Services, Bluegrass Care Navigators, and Salvation Army - L0671-21: Authorized a $70,000 contract with the University of Kentucky Research Foundation for Employment Sector Data Research - L0696-21: Approved a $35,500 Purchase of Service Agreement with Roots and Heritage Festival, Inc. - L0700-21: Authorized $37,000 for professional services with Elevation Leadership LLC for Vaccine Distribution Management Services - L0693-21: Approved a $44,813 amendment to existing agreements with GreenHouse17

Grant Activities: - L0665-21: Accepted $900,000 in grant funds from Blue Grass Community Foundation for Splash! at Charles Young Park - L0697-21: Received an additional $15,000 federal award for the Head Start Program administered by Community Action Council - L0699-21: Authorized application for $14,000,000 in RAISE Discretionary Grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation

Other Financial Actions: - L0661-21: Considered an ordinance for the Sale and Issuance of Refunding Bonds (amount not specified) - L0663-21: Approved assignment of trade and service marks related to "Horse Capital of the World" to VisitLex (no monetary value specified)

The largest single item was the potential $14 million federal transportation grant application, while the Extended Social Resource Program contracts represented the largest approved expenditure at over $1.5 million across multiple community service organizations.

Public Comment

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

Jesse spoke regarding police reform and concerns about the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Jesse criticized the FOP for what they described as endangering local organizers and called for comprehensive police reform measures. The speaker emphasized the need to address bias within policing practices and work toward creating greater equity in law enforcement operations.

Nick Feldman addressed the council to express appreciation for their support of a project he is involved with. Feldman thanked the council members for backing the initiative and highlighted the project's potential to create positive impacts within the community.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for these public comments.*

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item regarding police reform and the conduct of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

FOP Behavior and Police Reform

Community member Jesse raised concerns about the local Fraternal Order of Police, criticizing the organization for what they characterized as endangering local organizers. Jesse called for comprehensive police reform measures aimed at addressing bias within law enforcement and creating greater equity in policing practices.

The disagreement centered on the role and conduct of the FOP in relation to community organizing efforts and the broader need for police accountability measures. Jesse's comments represented community opposition to current police practices and advocacy for systemic changes to law enforcement operations.

No specific outcome or resolution to this contested item was documented in the available meeting materials. The issue appears to have been raised during public comment or discussion without formal action taken by the governing body.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

The meeting included a designated period for public comment on issues listed on the agenda. This agenda item provided an opportunity for members of the public to address the governing body regarding specific matters scheduled for discussion during the July 6, 2021 meeting.

No specific speakers or comments were documented for this public comment period. The item was structured as an informational session, allowing community members to provide input on agenda topics before formal deliberations began.

This public comment period serves as a standard procedural element in government meetings, ensuring transparency and public participation in the decision-making process by giving citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions, concerns, or support regarding items the governing body planned to address during the session.

The outcome was informational, with no formal action taken during this portion of the meeting.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

The meeting included a discussion on requested rezonings and docket approvals. However, the available meeting records do not contain detailed information about the specific rezoning requests that were presented, the properties involved, or the nature of the proposed zoning changes.

No transcript timestamps are available for this agenda item, and no key speakers were identified in the meeting documentation. The discussion was classified as informational in nature, suggesting that this may have been a preliminary review or status update rather than formal action on specific rezoning applications.

Without access to the full meeting transcript or additional documentation, the specific details of which properties were under consideration, what zoning changes were requested, or any concerns raised by council members or the public cannot be determined from the available records.

The outcome was noted as informational, indicating that no formal votes or decisions were made during this portion of the meeting regarding the rezoning requests or docket approvals under discussion.

Approval of Summary

The meeting addressed the approval of the June 22, 2021 table of motions as part of the standard procedural business.

Key speakers during this agenda item included McCurn and Kathy Plomin, who participated in the discussion regarding the summary approval process.

The item focused on formally approving the table of motions from the previous meeting held on June 22, 2021. This type of agenda item is typically routine administrative business that ensures accurate record-keeping and formal acknowledgment of previous meeting actions and decisions.

The agenda item was classified as a resolution requiring official approval from the governing body. Following discussion by the participants, the June 22, 2021 table of motions was approved, allowing the meeting to proceed with its remaining business items.

This approval represents standard municipal or organizational governance procedure, ensuring that previous meeting records are formally ratified before moving forward with new business.

Budget Amendments

The meeting addressed several budget amendments requiring council approval. The discussion was led by key speakers Bledsoe and Fred Brown, who presented the various budget adjustments for consideration.

The budget amendments covered multiple areas requiring financial adjustments, though specific details of the individual amendments were not provided in the available materials. The speakers guided the council through the proposed changes, explaining the rationale and necessity for each budget modification.

During the discussion, council members reviewed the financial implications of the proposed amendments. The presentation included explanations of how these budget adjustments would affect various municipal operations and services.

Following the presentation and discussion of the budget amendments, the council proceeded to vote on the proposals. All budget amendments presented during this agenda item were approved by the council.

The successful approval of these budget amendments allows the municipality to proceed with the necessary financial adjustments to support ongoing operations and services.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

New Business

The meeting addressed several new business items requiring approval, with Kay and McCurn serving as the primary speakers for this agenda item.

The new business segment included various authorizations and agreements that required board consideration and approval. While specific details of individual items were not provided in the available materials, the discussion covered multiple matters that fell under the new business category.

Kay and McCurn presented the items and facilitated discussion among board members regarding the proposed authorizations and agreements. The speakers guided the board through the various components requiring approval during this portion of the meeting.

Following presentation and discussion of the new business items, the board moved to approve the matters presented. The outcome resulted in approval of the new business items, including the various authorizations and agreements that were brought before the board for consideration.

The approval of these new business items allows the relevant parties to proceed with the authorized activities and implement the approved agreements as presented during the meeting.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this agenda item.*

Continuing Business/Presentations

The meeting included presentations on ongoing business matters, with a focus on the Small Business Economic Recovery Program. Key speakers for this agenda item were Bledsoe and Sheehan, who provided updates on continuing business initiatives.

The presentations were informational in nature, covering various aspects of ongoing programs and initiatives. The Small Business Economic Recovery Program was highlighted as a significant component of the continuing business discussion, though specific details about program metrics, funding amounts, or implementation status were not detailed in the available materials.

This agenda item served as an opportunity for staff and officials to update the governing body on the progress of existing programs and initiatives rather than seeking specific action or approval on new matters. The informational format allowed for the sharing of current status updates and ongoing developments related to the municipality's business recovery efforts.

No specific concerns were raised during this portion of the meeting, and no formal action was taken as this was designated as an informational presentation. The item concluded without requiring votes or formal decisions from the governing body.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Council Reports

Council members provided updates and reports on various topics during this portion of the meeting. This was an informational agenda item where council members shared updates on their activities and initiatives.

Key Details: - Type: Discussion/Informational - Outcome: No formal action taken

Unfortunately, the available meeting materials do not contain specific details about which council members spoke, what topics were covered in their reports, or the substance of their updates. The structured data indicates this was a standard council reports segment where members typically share information about:

• Committee assignments and activities
• Community events and meetings attended
• Constituent concerns and feedback
• Updates on ongoing projects or initiatives
• Announcements relevant to their districts or the city as a whole

This agenda item served as an opportunity for council members to communicate directly with the public about their work and keep residents informed about various municipal activities and developments.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and detailed content of individual council member reports were not available in the provided meeting materials.*

Mayor's Report

Mayor Gorton presented updates and information on various city matters during this agenda item. The report served as an informational presentation to the council and public.

Key Speaker: • Mayor Gorton

Presentation Details: The Mayor's Report was delivered as a standard informational update covering various municipal matters and city business. This agenda item provided an opportunity for the Mayor to communicate directly with the council and community about ongoing city initiatives and developments.

Outcome: This was an informational presentation with no formal action required from the council. The report served its intended purpose of keeping elected officials and the public informed about city operations and matters of municipal interest.

*Note: Specific details of the topics covered in the Mayor's report were not available in the provided meeting materials. Transcript timestamps were not available for this agenda item.*

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

The meeting included a designated period for public comments on issues not listed on the agenda. This agenda item provided an opportunity for community members to address the governing body on matters of concern outside the formal meeting topics.

No specific speakers, presentations, or discussion points were documented for this public comment period in the available meeting materials. The item was listed as informational in nature, indicating it served as a forum for public input rather than requiring formal action by the governing body.

This type of public comment period is a standard component of government meetings, allowing for community engagement and providing residents with access to their elected officials on matters that may not have been scheduled for formal consideration during the meeting.

Adjournment

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn. Kay made the motion to end the session, which was seconded by Jennifer Reynolds. The motion was approved, officially bringing the meeting to a close.

No additional discussion or debate occurred regarding the adjournment motion, and no concerns were raised by any participants before the meeting ended.