Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on August 10, 2021, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Urban County Government Center, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed three main agenda items, including a recognition ceremony for the Department of Finance that was postponed, an informational presentation on ad valorem tax options for fiscal year 2022, and a public hearing regarding the proposed Residential Parking Permit Program.

During the session, the council conducted eight motions and votes on various matters before the body. Three members of the public provided comments during the designated public comment periods. The meeting focused primarily on informational presentations and public input, with the Department of Finance recognition being the only item that required postponement to a future meeting date.

Attendance

All council members were present for the August 10, 2021 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Gorton • Vice Mayor Kay • Council Member Sheehan • Council Member James Brown • Council Member Moloney • Council Member Ellinger • Council Member Bledsoe • Council Member McCurn • Council Member Fred Brown • Council Member Baxter • Council Member Plomin • Council Member Lamb • Council Member Worley • Council Member Reynolds • Council Member Kloiber

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with all 15 council members participating.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted eight votes during the August 10, 2021 meeting, all of which passed by voice vote.

Agenda Modifications Vice Mayor Kay motioned to remove recognition of the Department of Finance from the agenda, seconded by Council Member Sheehan. The motion passed by voice vote. 0:30

The council approved the docket by voice vote. 2:00

Legislative Actions Council Member Moloney motioned for a resolution to request extension of ad valorem tax payment deadlines, which passed by voice vote. 3:00

Council Member Bledsoe motioned to place a zoning change for Harrodsburg Road on the docket without a public hearing. The motion passed by voice vote. 5:00

The council approved budget amendments by voice vote. 7:00

New Business and Reports Council Member Baxter motioned to approve new business items, seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote with one abstention. 9:00

The council approved Neighborhood Development Funds by voice vote, with Council Member Sheehan providing the second. 11:00

The Mayor's Report was approved by voice vote, with Vice Mayor Kay providing the second. 13:00

All motions were conducted as voice votes rather than roll call votes, so individual council member positions were not recorded for most items. The only noted variation was one abstention on the new business items approval.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant grant-related financial items totaling over $672,000.

Grant Acceptance - Charles Young Park Enhancement The council considered Resolution 0767-21 to accept a $250,000 grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation and National Recreation and Park Association. This funding is designated for the Splash! program at Charles Young Park, which will enhance recreational facilities and programming at the location.

Federal Relief Grant - Shuttered Venues Program Resolution 0772-21 involved accepting $422,229.75 from the Small Business Administration through the Shuttered Venues Operator Grant program. This federal funding is intended to compensate for lost revenue experienced during the pandemic shutdown period, providing financial relief for qualifying venues that were required to cease or significantly reduce operations.

Both items represent external funding sources that do not require matching city funds, providing resources for park improvements and pandemic recovery efforts without impacting the municipal budget.

Public Comment

Three residents addressed the council during the public comment period, focusing on two main issues: the Residential Parking Permit Program and the Palmer Building.

Residential Parking Permit Program

Leslie Farmer spoke first regarding the proposed Residential Parking Permit Program 15:00. Farmer expressed concerns about how the parking restrictions would impact students at Lexington Catholic High School, emphasizing the ongoing need for adequate student parking in the area.

Karen Bailey followed with a contrasting perspective on the same issue 18:00. Bailey voiced support for implementing the parking permit program, citing significant congestion and safety concerns on Fairfield Drive that she attributed to student parking. Her comments highlighted the tension between residential parking needs and school-related traffic impacts.

Palmer Building

Billie Mallory addressed the council about the Palmer Building 25:00. Mallory emphasized the building's historical significance to the community and urged council members to carefully consider community input when making future decisions regarding the property's fate.

The public comments revealed a divide in community opinion on the parking permit program, with residents weighing student access needs against neighborhood safety and congestion concerns. The Palmer Building discussion reflected broader community interest in preserving local historical assets and ensuring meaningful public participation in municipal decision-making processes.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during this meeting centered on the Legacy Trail closure for utility work 30:00. Council members and community representatives expressed significant opposition to the planned closure, raising concerns about the impact on trail users and the adequacy of planning measures.

The disagreement focused on two main issues: communication and detour planning. Participants argued that the public had not received sufficient advance notice about the closure, leaving regular trail users unprepared for the disruption. Additionally, concerns were raised about the lack of adequate detour routes or alternative access plans for pedestrians and cyclists who rely on the Legacy Trail for transportation and recreation.

Council members joined community voices in emphasizing the need for improved communication protocols when major infrastructure work affects public amenities. The discussion highlighted the importance of providing clear, timely information to residents about closures and ensuring that alternative routes are properly planned and marked before work begins.

While the specific outcome of this discussion was not detailed in the available materials, the concerns raised by both council members and community participants demonstrated unified opposition to the current closure plan and implementation approach.

Recognition of the Department of Finance

0:30

The planned recognition of the Department of Finance was postponed during the meeting due to the unavailability of key personnel. Vice Mayor Kay addressed this agenda item, explaining that the recognition ceremony could not proceed as scheduled.

The postponement was necessary because essential staff members who were to be recognized were not present at the meeting. No details were provided regarding when the recognition would be rescheduled or which specific personnel were unavailable.

Outcome: The recognition was postponed to a future meeting date to be determined.

Ad Valorem Tax Options for FY 2022

22:00

Melissa Lueker presented the administration's analysis of ad valorem tax rate options for fiscal year 2022. The presentation outlined three primary approaches for setting the tax rates in the upcoming budget cycle.

The options presented included:

• Maintaining current tax rates at existing levels
• Implementing compensating rates that would adjust for property value changes
• Adopting a 4% increase to current tax rates

Lueker provided analysis of each option's fiscal impact and implications for municipal revenue generation. The presentation examined how each approach would affect the city's ability to fund services and operations in FY 2022.

Following the review of available options, the administration formally recommended keeping the current ad valorem tax rates unchanged for the upcoming fiscal year. This recommendation was presented as the preferred approach based on the administration's assessment of revenue needs and taxpayer impact.

The agenda item was structured as an informational presentation, providing council members with the necessary background and analysis to inform future decision-making on tax rate adoption. No formal action was taken during this discussion, as the presentation served to outline options and communicate the administration's position ahead of formal budget deliberations.

The presentation established the framework for subsequent budget discussions and provided council members with the technical analysis needed to evaluate tax rate decisions for FY 2022.

Residential Parking Permit Program Public Hearing

15:00

The city held a public hearing to consider establishing a residential parking permit program for the 500 block of Fairfield Drive. The hearing provided an opportunity for residents and other stakeholders to comment on the proposed program.

Key speakers during the hearing included Leslie Farmer and Karen Bailey, who presented their perspectives on the parking permit proposal. The hearing also included comments from school representatives, indicating that the parking issues may be related to nearby educational facilities affecting residential parking availability.

The public hearing was informational in nature, serving as a forum for community input on the proposed residential parking permit program. The discussion focused on the specific area of the 500 block of Fairfield Drive, suggesting this location has been experiencing parking challenges that may warrant the implementation of a permit system to prioritize resident parking access.

The hearing allowed for public comment and discussion regarding the potential impacts and benefits of implementing such a program in this residential area. No final action was taken during this hearing, as it served as an information-gathering session to collect community feedback on the proposed parking permit program.