Council Work Session - Virtual Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Urban County Council held a work session on January 11, 2022, at 3:00 PM, presided over by Mayor Linda Gorton. The meeting was conducted virtually and covered 10 agenda items ranging from administrative matters to council and mayoral reports.

The council accomplished several key tasks during the session, including approval of meeting summaries and budget amendments. One formal vote was recorded during the proceedings, while the majority of agenda items were informational in nature, including discussions on requested rezonings and docket approval, new business items, and continuing business presentations.

No public comments were received during either of the designated public comment periods - one for issues on the agenda and another for issues not on the agenda. The meeting included standard reporting segments with Council Reports and the Mayor's Report providing updates to members. The session concluded with formal adjournment, completing the council's work session agenda in an efficient manner.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on January 11, 2022:

• Susan Lamb
• Steve Kay
• Richard Moloney
• James Brown
• Hannah LeGris
• Liz Sheehan
• Fred Brown
• Whitney Baxter
• Jennifer Reynolds
• Kathy Plomin
• Ellinger

No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included one recorded vote during the January 11, 2022 session.

Motion to Enter Closed Session

Susan Lamb made a motion to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation and discussions that may lead to the appointment of individual employees. The motion was seconded by Whitney Baxter.

The motion passed by voice vote with 11 members voting in favor, 1 member voting against, and 2 abstentions.

The following members voted in favor of the motion: - Susan Lamb - Whitney Baxter - Steve Kay - Richard Moloney - James Brown - Hannah LeGris - Liz Sheehan - Fred Brown - Jennifer Reynolds - Kathy Plomin - Ellinger

No specific members were identified as voting against the motion or abstaining from the vote.

The closed session was authorized to discuss two specific matters: pending litigation involving the governmental body and discussions that may lead to the appointment of individual employees. These are standard legal grounds for entering executive session under applicable open meeting laws.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed 25 financial items totaling over $2.2 million in expenditures, grants, and contract authorizations.

Major Expenditures and Contracts: • Authorization L0007-22 approved a $432,536.00 amendment to Contract #692-2012 with Meridian Management Corporation for facility management services at Fayette County Courthouses • Resolution L0011-22 authorized a $137,102.00 amended agreement with Bluegrass Care Navigators for the Medical Respite Care Program • Item L0014-22 approved Change Order No.1 with Central Bridge Company, LLC for $123,526.65 for the Brighton Rail Trail Bridge Project • Authorization L0002-22 approved a sole source purchase of an outdoor warning siren for McConnell Springs Park for $30,600.00

Grant Awards and Applications: The city accepted significant federal and state funding, including: • L0016-22: $1,017,480.00 from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services for the Family Care Center • L0024-22: $178,909.17 from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet for the Litter Abatement Grant Funding Program • L0021-22: $100,563.39 from Kentucky Department of Military Affairs for FY 2022 Emergency Management Assistance Project • L0019-22: $60,501.00 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Continuum of Care Program • L0023-22: Authorization to apply for $600,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

Infrastructure and Community Investments: • L0006-22 awarded a $51,940.00 Class B Infrastructure Incentive Grant to The Prestwick Condominiums Association, Inc. • L0038-22 approved a $30,000.00 agreement with Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame for a new monument • L0031-22 authorized $17,500.00 in certificates of consideration for the West Hickman Main Trunk E Project

Personnel Actions: • L0028-22 created one unclassified Accountant Sr. position in the Division of Accounting with a salary of $82,817.02 • L0008-22 abolished one vacant unclassified position and created one classified position in the Division of Water Quality

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

During the January 11, 2022 meeting, a public comment period was held to allow community members to address issues listed on the meeting agenda. This agenda item provided an opportunity for public participation in the governmental process by inviting input on matters scheduled for discussion or action during the meeting.

No specific speakers, comments, or issues were documented during this public comment period. The item was designated as informational, indicating that it served as a formal opportunity for public input rather than requiring any specific action by the governing body.

Public comment periods on agenda items are a standard component of government meetings, allowing residents and stakeholders to share their perspectives, concerns, or support for matters under consideration. These sessions typically occur before the governing body deliberates on agenda items, ensuring that public input can inform decision-making processes.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, meaning no formal action was taken as a result of the public comment period. This is typical for public comment sessions, which primarily serve to gather community input rather than to make decisions.

Requested Rezonings/ Docket Approval

The council held a discussion regarding requested rezonings and docket approval for upcoming council meetings. This agenda item served as an informational session to review pending rezoning applications and coordinate the scheduling of these items for future council consideration.

The discussion focused on the administrative aspects of managing the rezoning docket and ensuring proper preparation for upcoming meetings where these applications would be formally considered. Council members reviewed the status of various rezoning requests that had been submitted and discussed the procedural requirements for moving these items forward in the approval process.

This was an informational discussion item, with no formal action taken during the meeting. The purpose was to provide council members with an overview of the pending rezoning applications and to coordinate the scheduling and preparation necessary for future meetings where these items would be presented for formal consideration and potential approval.

The outcome of this discussion was informational, serving to keep council members informed about the status of pending rezoning requests and to facilitate proper planning for upcoming meetings where these applications would be formally addressed.

Approval of Summary

The meeting addressed the approval of the summary from the previous meeting held on December 7, 2021. This agenda item was presented as a resolution requiring formal approval from the body.

No specific speakers were identified during the discussion of this item, and no transcript timestamp was available for this portion of the meeting. The approval process appears to have proceeded without significant debate or concerns raised by meeting participants.

The summary of the December 7, 2021 meeting was formally approved by the body, allowing the proceedings to move forward to subsequent agenda items.

Budget Amendments

The meeting addressed various budget amendments for different departments, which were presented for discussion and approval. The amendments involved adjustments to departmental budgets, though specific details about the amounts, departments affected, or reasons for the amendments were not provided in the available materials.

The budget amendments were presented as a resolution requiring formal approval from the governing body. While the specific nature of each amendment was not detailed in the extracted information, these types of budget modifications typically involve reallocating funds between departments, adjusting for unexpected expenses, or incorporating additional revenue sources that became available after the original budget was adopted.

No specific speakers were identified in the discussion of this agenda item, and no particular concerns or debates were noted in the available documentation. The amendments appear to have proceeded through the approval process without significant opposition or extended deliberation.

The budget amendments were ultimately approved by the governing body, allowing the various departments to proceed with their adjusted funding allocations. This approval enables the affected departments to implement their revised spending plans and ensures continued operations under the modified budget parameters.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps, speaker names, amendment amounts, and departmental details were not available in the source materials for this agenda item.*

New Business

The New Business agenda item was included in the January 11, 2022 meeting to address new matters requiring board consideration. However, based on the available meeting documentation, no specific details were recorded regarding the content of discussions, presentations, or decisions made during this portion of the meeting.

The agenda item was categorized as a discussion item, suggesting that new topics or issues were brought forward for board consideration. No specific speakers were identified in the meeting records, and no transcript timestamps were available to reference particular portions of the discussion.

The outcome was recorded as informational, indicating that this segment served to introduce or present new business matters to the board rather than requiring immediate action or formal votes. Without additional meeting documentation or transcript details, the specific nature of any new business items discussed, concerns raised by board members, or follow-up actions planned cannot be determined from the available records.

This agenda item represents a standard component of municipal meetings where new issues, proposals, or matters requiring future board attention are typically introduced and initially discussed before being scheduled for more detailed consideration at subsequent meetings.

Continuing Business/ Presentations

This agenda item was designated for presentations on ongoing business and updates from various committees during the January 11, 2022 meeting. The item was structured as an informational session to provide updates on continuing matters before the body.

Based on the available meeting documentation, this section was allocated for presentations and updates from various committees and ongoing business matters. However, specific details about the presentations delivered, the committees that reported, or the content of the updates are not available in the provided materials.

The agenda item was categorized as informational in nature, indicating that no formal votes or decisions were expected to result from these presentations. This type of agenda item typically serves to keep meeting participants informed about the status of ongoing projects, committee work, and other continuing business matters.

Without access to the meeting transcript or additional documentation, the specific speakers who presented, the topics covered, or any discussion that may have occurred during this portion of the meeting cannot be detailed. The outcome was recorded as informational, consistent with the typical purpose of such agenda items in government meetings.

This section of the meeting would have provided an opportunity for various committees or departments to share updates on their work and for participants to stay informed about ongoing initiatives and business matters relevant to the meeting body's responsibilities.

Council Reports

The Council Reports agenda item was scheduled as an informational presentation during the January 11, 2022 meeting. This segment was designated for council members to provide updates on various topics and committee activities.

Based on the available meeting data, this item was structured as a presentation format where council members could share reports on their respective committee work, community engagement activities, and other matters of municipal interest. The agenda item was categorized as informational in nature, meaning no formal votes or decisions were expected during this portion of the meeting.

No specific speakers were identified in the available documentation for this agenda item, and no transcript timestamps were provided to reference particular discussions or presentations that may have occurred during this segment.

The outcome of this agenda item was recorded as informational, consistent with the typical format of council reports where members share updates and information with both fellow council members and the public without requiring formal action or decision-making.

This type of agenda item is commonly used in municipal meetings to ensure transparency and keep the public informed about ongoing council activities, committee work, and other matters of local government business.

Mayor's Report

Mayor Linda Gorton provided updates on various city initiatives and projects during her report to the council. The presentation served as an informational briefing on current municipal activities and developments.

The Mayor addressed several ongoing city projects and initiatives, though specific details of the topics covered were not captured in the available meeting documentation. This regular agenda item allows the Mayor to communicate directly with council members and the public about the administration's activities and priorities.

The report was presented as an informational item, with no formal action required from the council. This type of regular mayoral update helps maintain transparency and keeps elected officials and residents informed about city operations and strategic initiatives.

*Note: Specific details of the topics discussed and timestamp information were not available in the source materials for this meeting.*

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 public concern outside of the scheduled discussion topics.

No specific transcript timestamp or detailed information about individual speakers or comments was provided in the available meeting materials. The agenda item was classified as informational in nature, indicating that no formal action was taken in response to the public comments received.

This type of public comment period is a standard component of government meetings, allowing for community input and ensuring public participation in the governmental process. The outcome was recorded as informational, meaning the comments were received and acknowledged without requiring immediate board or council action.

Adjournment

The meeting was formally adjourned following the completion of all scheduled agenda items. No additional discussion or procedural matters were raised before the adjournment motion was approved.

The adjournment proceeded without any speakers taking the floor or additional business being brought before the body. All agenda items had been addressed prior to the conclusion of the meeting.