Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on March 3, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The council addressed five agenda items during the session, with all items receiving approval. The meeting included four motions and votes, covering a range of municipal business from routine administrative matters to budget amendments and service contracts. One public comment was heard during the proceedings. The council successfully completed all scheduled business, approving meeting minutes from February sessions, multiple budget amendments for municipal expenditures and traffic engineering, a management contract with Lexington Center Corporation, and an amendment to authorized staffing levels in the Division of Aging and Disability Services.

Attendance

Present: Worley, Baxter, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Reynolds, Sheehan

Absent: Bledsoe, Plomin

Late: None

Thirteen members were present for the March 3, 2022 meeting, with two members absent and no late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted four roll call votes during the meeting, with all measures passing unanimously with 13 members voting in favor and no opposition or abstentions 6:02.

Motion 0195-22 - Amending budgets for municipal expenditures, FY 2022 Schedule No. 29 - Motion by Ms. Baxter, seconded by Ms. Sheehan - Passed 13-0 - Voting in favor: Worley, Baxter, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Reynolds, Sheehan

Motion 0196-22 - Amending budgets for $500 for speed tables on Douglas Ave., Schedule No. 30 - Motion by Ms. Baxter, seconded by Ms. Sheehan - Passed 13-0 - Voting in favor: Worley, Baxter, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Reynolds, Sheehan

Motion 0143-22 - Authorizing amended Management Contract with Lexington Center Corporation - Motion by Ms. Baxter, seconded by Ms. Sheehan - Passed 13-0 - Voting in favor: Worley, Baxter, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Reynolds, Sheehan

Motion 0156-22 - Amending authorized strength, creating position in Division of Aging and Disability Services - Motion by Ms. Baxter, seconded by Ms. Sheehan - Passed 13-0 - Voting in favor: Worley, Baxter, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Reynolds, Sheehan

All four motions were made by Ms. Baxter and seconded by Ms. Sheehan, indicating these items were likely part of a consent agenda or coordinated legislative package.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several financial items totaling over $1.3 million in appropriations, grants, and donations.

Infrastructure and Traffic Safety - Resolution 0196-22 approved a $500 appropriation to the Division of Traffic Engineering for the installation of speed tables on Douglas Avenue.

Stormwater Quality Grant Awards Three significant grants were approved for stormwater quality improvement projects:

• Resolution 0145-22 authorized a $300,000 grant to Community Montessori School, Inc. for stormwater quality projects
• Resolution 0146-22 approved a $212,932 grant to Lakeshore Village, Inc. for similar stormwater quality initiatives
• Resolution 0147-22 allocated $299,477.60 to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington, Inc. for stormwater quality projects

The three stormwater grants collectively represent an investment of $812,409.60 in environmental infrastructure improvements across multiple community organizations.

COVID-19 Public Health Support Resolution 0233-22 accepted a donation valued at $10,500.71 from Lynn Imaging for color GIS printing and vinyl banner services related to COVID-19 messaging efforts. This in-kind donation supported the city's ongoing public health communication initiatives during the pandemic.

The financial actions demonstrate the city's commitment to traffic safety improvements, environmental sustainability through stormwater management, and public health communications, with funding mechanisms ranging from direct appropriations to grant awards and accepted donations from private sector partners.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the board.

Ms. Reynolds spoke about a recent vigil for Ukraine that had taken place in the community 12:00. She expressed gratitude for the community's support and participation in the vigil. Ms. Reynolds shared personal stories of individuals who have been affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, providing the board and attendees with firsthand accounts of the humanitarian impact of the situation.

The public comment period focused solely on this international humanitarian concern, with no other speakers addressing local municipal issues during this portion of the meeting.

Appointments

The council approved several appointments and reappointments to various boards and advisory bodies during the meeting.

CASA of Lexington received two new appointments: • Briana Persley was appointed to serve on CASA of Lexington • Jonathan Shell was appointed to serve on CASA of Lexington

Emergency Medical Advisory Board had one reappointment: • Eric Reid was reappointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board

Library Board of Advisors saw significant activity with four new appointments and one reappointment: • Jennifer Bird-Pollan was appointed to the Library Board of Advisors • Craig Cammack was appointed to the Library Board of Advisors • Alexandria Garcia was appointed to the Library Board of Advisors • Cathy Muetterties was appointed to the Library Board of Advisors • Megan George was reappointed to the Library Board of Advisors

Masterson Station Park Advisory Board received one new appointment: • Vernon Bewley was appointed to the Masterson Station Park Advisory Board

In total, the council processed nine appointments across five different boards and advisory bodies, with seven new appointments and two reappointments. The Library Board of Advisors received the most attention with five total appointments, suggesting either expanded membership or multiple term expirations requiring replacement.

Minutes of the February 10, 2022 and February 17, 2022 Meetings

6:02

The council considered agenda item 0203-22, which addressed the approval of minutes from two previous meetings held on February 10, 2022 and February 17, 2022.

Mr. Ellinger and Ms. Sheehan were the key speakers who participated in the discussion of this agenda item. The item was presented as an ordinance requiring formal council action.

The minutes from both February meetings were presented to the council for review and approval. No specific concerns or objections were raised during the discussion of the meeting minutes.

The council voted unanimously to approve the minutes of both the February 10, 2022 and February 17, 2022 meetings, formally adopting them into the official record.

Amending Budgets for Municipal Expenditures

6:02

The council considered Ordinance 0195-22, which would amend the budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures.

Ms. Baxter and Ms. Sheehan served as key speakers during the discussion of this budget amendment ordinance. The measure was designed to adjust the government's existing budgets to align with current municipal spending needs and requirements.

The ordinance was approved by the council, allowing the necessary budget modifications to move forward to accommodate the updated expenditure requirements for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

Amending Budgets for Traffic Engineering

6:02

The council considered Ordinance 0196-22, which proposed amending municipal budgets to allocate $500 for the installation of speed tables on Douglas Avenue. The ordinance was presented as a traffic calming measure to address safety concerns on the street.

Key speakers during the discussion included Ms. Baxter and Ms. Sheehan, who participated in the deliberation of this budget amendment. The proposed allocation of $500 was specifically earmarked for speed table installation, which represents a relatively modest investment in traffic engineering infrastructure designed to reduce vehicle speeds in the Douglas Avenue area.

The council ultimately approved the ordinance, authorizing the budget amendment to proceed with the speed table installation project. This approval allows the city to move forward with implementing the traffic calming measures on Douglas Avenue using the allocated funds.

The speed tables are intended to serve as physical traffic control devices that encourage drivers to reduce their speed while traveling through the area, potentially improving pedestrian safety and overall traffic conditions on Douglas Avenue.

Management Contract with Lexington Center Corporation

6:02

The council considered Ordinance 0143-22, which would authorize an amended and restated Management Contract with the Lexington Center Corporation. This ordinance involved updating the existing management agreement for the Lexington Center.

Key speakers on this item included Ms. Baxter and Ms. Sheehan, who presented information about the proposed contract amendments and restatement.

The ordinance was approved by the council, allowing the city to move forward with the amended and restated management contract with the Lexington Center Corporation. The updated agreement will govern the ongoing management relationship between the city and the corporation that operates the Lexington Center facility.

Amending Authorized Strength in Div. of Aging and Disability Services

6:02

The council considered Ordinance 0156-22, which would amend the authorized strength within the Division of Aging and Disability Services by abolishing one vacant position and creating a new position in its place.

Ms. Baxter and Ms. Sheehan served as key speakers during the discussion of this personnel restructuring measure. The ordinance represents an administrative reorganization rather than a net change in staffing levels, as it involves eliminating one vacant position while simultaneously establishing a new position within the same division.

The Division of Aging and Disability Services provides critical support services to vulnerable populations, and this position restructuring appears designed to better align staffing with current operational needs and service delivery requirements.

The council approved Ordinance 0156-22, allowing the Division of Aging and Disability Services to proceed with the authorized strength amendment. This approval enables the department to move forward with abolishing the specified vacant position and creating the new position as outlined in the ordinance.