Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on June 9, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The council addressed two agenda items during the meeting, both of which were successfully approved. The meeting included two motions and votes, covering Ordinance 0490-22 and Resolution 0411-22, with both measures receiving council approval. Additionally, the council heard from two members of the public during the public comment portion of the meeting, providing community input on matters of local concern.

Attendance

The following members were present at the June 9, 2022 meeting:

• Lamb
• McCurn
• Moloney
• Plomin
• Reynolds
• Sheehan
• Worley
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown
• Ellinger
• Kloiber

Absent: • LeGris • Baxter • J. Brown • Kay

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 11 members were present and 4 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 0490-22 0:00 Council member Ellinger motioned to approve An Ordinance changing the zone from a Highway Service Business (B-3) zone to a Light Industrial (I-1) zone for a property located at 2417 Georgetown Rd. The motion was seconded by Sheehan. The ordinance passed by a vote of 11-0, with all council members voting in favor:

• Voting Yes (11): Lamb, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, Ellinger, and Kloiber
• Voting No: None
• Abstentions: None

Resolution 0411-22 0:00 Council member Ellinger motioned to approve A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Lease Agreement with Metro Employees Credit Union for space at the Phoenix Building. The motion was seconded by Plomin. The resolution passed unanimously by a vote of 11-0, with the same council members voting in favor:

• Voting Yes (11): Lamb, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, Ellinger, and Kloiber
• Voting No: None
• Abstentions: None

Both measures received full council support with no opposition or abstentions recorded. The zoning change ordinance affects commercial property development regulations, while the resolution enables a lease agreement for municipal building space usage.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial items totaling over $1.7 million in expenditures.

Property Acquisition for Parks and Recreation The council considered Ordinance 0548-22, which appropriates $1,160,500 for the acquisition of property by the Division of Parks and Recreation. This represents the larger of the two financial actions discussed during the meeting.

Voting Equipment Purchase Resolution 0461-22 authorizes a contract for $575,370 to purchase voting equipment from the Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections. This procurement will update the jurisdiction's voting infrastructure through the state's centralized purchasing system.

The combined financial impact of these two items amounts to $1,735,870 in municipal expenditures, with the parks property acquisition representing approximately 67% of the total spending approved.

Public Comment

Two community members addressed the council during the public comment period of the June 9, 2022 meeting.

Tom Dupree spoke first regarding budget concerns 2:00. Dupree expressed skepticism about the proposed budget's revenue projections and called on the council to adopt more realistic financial planning approaches. He questioned whether the current revenue estimates were achievable and urged for greater fiscal responsibility in the budgeting process.

Reva English followed with comments about housing displacement issues 3:00. English brought attention to ongoing housing displacement problems affecting Lexington residents and advocated for the council to take action on protecting affordable housing options. She specifically urged the council to implement existing recommendations that could help address the displacement crisis facing the community.

Both speakers focused on significant municipal concerns - fiscal responsibility and housing affordability - that directly impact residents' daily lives and the city's long-term sustainability.

Appointments

The council took action on two appointments during the June 9, 2022 meeting.

Downtown Lexington Management District Board of Directors • Thomas Pettit was reappointed to the Downtown Lexington Management District Board of Directors

Historic Preservation Commission • Robert McGoodwin was appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission

These appointments represent the council's ongoing efforts to fill positions on various municipal boards and commissions that provide oversight and guidance for city operations and planning initiatives.

Contested Items

The primary point of contention during the June 9, 2022 meeting centered on the FY23 Budget ordinances, which generated heated discussion among council members.

FY23 Budget Dispute

Council Member Moloney emerged as the primary opposition voice regarding the proposed FY23 Budget ordinances. Moloney raised significant concerns about the underlying economic forecast that informed the budget projections, arguing that the financial assumptions were overly optimistic given current economic conditions. The council member specifically cited potential financial instability as a key reason for opposing the budget measures.

The disagreement appeared to focus on the reliability of revenue projections and whether the proposed spending levels were sustainable given economic uncertainties. Moloney's opposition represented a cautious fiscal approach, emphasizing the need for more conservative budgeting in light of potential economic headwinds.

The heated nature of the discussion suggests that other council members disagreed with Moloney's assessment, likely defending the budget's economic assumptions and spending priorities. However, the specific positions of other council members and the ultimate outcome of the budget vote are not detailed in the available information.

This budget dispute reflects broader tensions over fiscal policy and risk management that commonly arise during municipal budget deliberations, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty.

Ordinance 0490-22

0:00

The council considered Ordinance 0490-22, which would rezone property at 2417 Georgetown Road from Highway Service Business (B-3) to Light Industrial (I-1).

Key speakers during the discussion included Ellinger and Sheehan, who presented information about the proposed zoning change. The ordinance would allow the property to transition from commercial highway service uses to light industrial activities permitted under the I-1 classification.

The council ultimately approved the ordinance, completing the rezoning process for the Georgetown Road property. The change from B-3 to I-1 zoning will enable different types of development and business operations at the site that align with light industrial uses rather than highway-oriented commercial services.

Resolution 0411-22

0:00

The council considered Resolution 0411-22, which would authorize the Mayor to execute a lease agreement with Metro Employees Credit Union for space at the Phoenix Building.

Key speakers during the discussion included Ellinger and Plomin, who presented details about the proposed lease arrangement. The resolution would formalize the rental agreement between the city and Metro Employees Credit Union for office space within the Phoenix Building.

The council approved Resolution 0411-22, allowing the Mayor to proceed with executing the lease agreement with Metro Employees Credit Union for the Phoenix Building space.