Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on December 2, 2021, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting focused primarily on recognition ceremonies, with two informational agenda items honoring community members and students. The council recognized Rachel Childress for her contributions and celebrated the winners of the Partnership for Youth and Euphrates International Essay Contest. During the session, the council took 2 votes and heard 2 public comments from attendees.

Attendance

The following members were present at the December 2, 2021 meeting:

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

Absent: • Baxter

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 15 members were present, with 1 member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the December 2, 2021 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 1195-21 2:00 was voted on first. This ordinance amended certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures, specifically FY 2022 Schedule No. 22. Vice Mayor Kay made the motion, which was seconded by Ellinger. The measure passed by roll call vote with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All council members present voted in favor: Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, and Kloiber.

Resolution 1081-21 5:00 followed as the second item. This resolution authorized the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kentucky Board of Emergency Services for continuation of the Community Paramedicine Program. Plomin made the motion, with Vice Mayor Kay providing the second. Like the previous item, this resolution passed unanimously by roll call vote with 14 ayes and 0 nays. The same 14 council members voted in favor: Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, and Kloiber.

Both votes demonstrated unanimous council support, with no abstentions recorded on either measure. The budget amendment and emergency services program continuation both received full backing from all present council members.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial expenditures through formal resolutions.

Emergency Medical Equipment Purchase The council approved Resolution 1135-21 authorizing the purchase of a bariatric cot from Stryker for $12,295. This specialized medical equipment will enhance the city's emergency response capabilities for patients requiring bariatric care.

Renewable Energy Initiative Resolution 1142-21 was approved, committing $15,980 for the city's participation in the Kentucky Utilities Company Solar Share Program. This investment represents the city's engagement in renewable energy initiatives through the utility's solar sharing program.

The two resolutions combined represent a total financial commitment of $28,275, covering both essential emergency services equipment and sustainable energy participation.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the council during the public comment period, raising concerns about utility practices and homeless services in the community.

Diane Achson spoke at 10:00 regarding KU's tree cutting practices. Achson expressed frustration over the utility company's approach to tree removal and urged the city to take stronger action against KU's current practices.

Aaron Self addressed the council at 12:00 about homeless assistance in Lexington. Self raised concerns about the adequacy of services available to homeless individuals in the community and highlighted issues occurring at local shelters.

Both speakers brought forward community concerns that fall under different areas of municipal oversight - utility regulation and social services - reflecting the diverse range of issues residents bring to city leadership during public comment periods.

Appointments

The meeting included two staff appointments to customer service positions.

New Appointments:

• Greg Huber was appointed as Customer Account Specialist

• Telecia Coleman was appointed as Customer Service Specialist

Both appointments were approved during the December 2, 2021 meeting. The specific details regarding the terms of these appointments, including start dates and compensation, were not provided in the available meeting materials.

Contested Items

The December 2, 2021 meeting featured two significant contested items that generated substantial debate and disagreement.

KU Tree Cutting Practices

Community members voiced strong opposition to the University of Kansas's tree cutting practices during the meeting. The controversy centered around KU's approach to tree removal, which had drawn significant criticism from residents and environmental advocates. The opposition was substantial enough that it prompted the city to take legal action against the university. This represents an escalation of the conflict between municipal authorities and the state institution over environmental and land use practices. The nature of the community opposition suggests widespread concern about the university's impact on local tree canopy and environmental resources.

Redistricting Ordinance

The council faced internal division over a redistricting ordinance, resulting in a split vote that highlighted differing perspectives among council members regarding proposed boundary changes. Redistricting typically involves redrawing electoral district boundaries, often following census data updates or population shifts. The split vote indicates that council members had fundamental disagreements about the proposed changes, whether related to the methodology, the specific boundary adjustments, or the potential impacts on representation and communities. Such divisions on redistricting matters are common in municipal government as they can affect political representation and community cohesion.

Both contested items reflect broader tensions in local governance - the KU tree cutting issue representing town-gown conflicts between the city and university, while the redistricting debate illustrates internal political divisions within the council itself. These disagreements demonstrate the complex challenges facing local government in balancing community concerns, institutional relationships, and fair representation.

Recognition of Rachel Childress

0:30

Mayor Gorton presented a recognition for Rachel Childress during the December 2, 2021 meeting under agenda item 1171-21. The presentation acknowledged Childress for her contributions to the community.

This was an informational item with no action required by the governing body. The recognition served as a formal acknowledgment of Childress's community service and involvement.

No additional details about the specific nature of Childress's contributions or the form of recognition were provided in the available meeting materials.

Recognition of the Partnership for Youth and Euphrates International Essay Contest Winners

1:00

The meeting included a presentation recognizing winners of an essay contest organized by the Partnership for Youth and Euphrates International. The contest focused on the topic of improving racial equality in Lexington.

Mayor Gorton and Erran Persley served as the key speakers for this agenda item (1162-21). The presentation honored students who participated in the essay competition, which encouraged young people to share their perspectives and ideas on advancing racial equality within the community.

This was an informational presentation celebrating the achievements of local students who engaged with important social issues through their writing. The recognition served to highlight youth voices and their contributions to discussions about racial equality in Lexington.

No debate or concerns were raised during this agenda item, as it was purely ceremonial in nature, focusing on acknowledging the contest winners and their thoughtful essays on improving racial equality in the community.