Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on June 28, 2022, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The council addressed seven agenda items during the session, including both informational presentations and items requiring formal action.

The meeting included four motions and votes, with the council approving the meeting summary and new business items. Council members heard one public comment during the designated public comment periods for issues both on and off the agenda. The session featured several informational segments, including continuing business and presentations, council reports, and the mayor's report, providing updates on various municipal matters and ongoing initiatives.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on June 28, 2022:

• Kay
• Moloney
• Ellinger
• J. Brown
• LeGris
• Lamb
• Sheehan
• Kloiber
• F. Brown
• Baxter
• Bledsoe
• Reynolds
• Plomin

Absent: • McCurn • Worley

No members arrived late to the meeting.

A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted four votes during the meeting, all by voice vote.

Approval of June 21 Council Work Session Summary 0:30 Councilmember Ellinger motioned to approve the June 21 council work session summary, seconded by Councilmember LeGris. The motion passed by voice vote.

Approval of New Business 1:00 Councilmember Plomin motioned to approve new business items, seconded by Councilmember McCurn. The motion passed by voice vote.

Lexington History Museum Agreement Resolution 45:00 Councilmember Lamb motioned to place on the docket for the July 5 council meeting a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with the Lexington History Museum. Councilmember Plomin seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote, with one dissenting vote from Councilmember Kloiber.

Motion to Adjourn 90:00 Councilmember Lamb motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilmember Baxter. The motion passed by voice vote.

All votes were conducted as voice votes rather than formal roll call votes, with the exception of the Lexington History Museum resolution where one council member's opposition was specifically noted.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council approved multiple contracts and grant applications totaling over $3.7 million in financial commitments during the June 28, 2022 meeting.

Contract Authorizations:

• Resolution 0536-22: Authorized Purchase of Service agreements totaling $1,585,838.00 with six Extended Social Resource Program Grantees agencies: Hope Center, Inc., GreenHouse17, Community Action Council, Arbor Youth Services, Hospice of the Bluegrass, Inc., and the Salvation Army.

• Resolution 0545-22: Approved a $1,000,000.00 ARPA subrecipient agreement with Mountain Comprehensive Care Center.

• Resolution 0546-22: Authorized a $380,172.00 ARPA subrecipient agreement with Untold Content for an online learning management program.

• Resolution 0547-22: Approved a $171,898.00 ARPA subrecipient agreement with Untold Content for a public education campaign.

• Resolution 0625-22: Authorized a $550.00 change order to the grant award agreement with Dalton Court, LLC.

• Resolution 0630-22: Approved $400,000.00 in ARPA Subrecipient Agreements with multiple Workforce Partners for the Economic Development Grant, including Awesome Inc., Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Building Institute of Central Kentucky, Community Action Council, Food Chain, Jubilee Jobs, Lexington Rescue Mission, and Opportunity for Work & Learning.

Grant Applications:

• Resolution 0642-22: Authorized submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for $153,791.00.

• Resolution 0643-22: Approved submission of an application for federal and state funds under the Violence Against Women Act Program totaling $69,756.00.

The majority of the approved funding came from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations, with significant investments in workforce development, social services, and community programs.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the board regarding police services and facility locations.

Dottie Bean spoke about concerns regarding the proposed relocation of the police roll call center from Gainsway to Veterans Park 85:00. Bean emphasized the importance of maintaining police presence in low-income neighborhoods, expressing opposition to moving the roll call center away from the Gainsway area. She argued that these communities particularly benefit from having police facilities nearby and that relocating the center to Veterans Park could reduce the police presence in areas that need it most.

The public comment period focused specifically on law enforcement facility planning and community policing considerations, with Bean's remarks highlighting the intersection of police services and neighborhood demographics in municipal planning decisions.

Contested Items

The June 28, 2022 meeting featured two significant areas of disagreement among council members.

Funding for Lexington History Museum

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the proposed funding plan for the Lexington History Museum. The debate centered on concerns about the long-term sustainability of the funding arrangement and questions about specific deliverables the museum would provide in exchange for city support. Several council members raised issues about ongoing operational expenses and expressed skepticism about the museum's fundraising capabilities to maintain financial viability beyond the initial city investment. The discussion highlighted disagreements over the appropriate level of municipal support for cultural institutions and the accountability measures that should be required for public funding.

Supreme Court Decision on Roe v. Wade

The recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade prompted significant debate among council members, with participants expressing sharply differing views on the local government's appropriate response. Some council members called for the city to take specific local action in response to the federal ruling, while others defended the mayor's existing response and approach to the issue. The discussion revealed fundamental disagreements about the role of local government in addressing federal policy changes and constitutional decisions.

Both contested items generated substantial discussion during the meeting, though the specific outcomes and resolutions of these debates were not clearly documented in the available materials. The disagreements reflected broader policy differences among council members regarding municipal spending priorities and the appropriate scope of local government action on federal issues.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:10

No members of the public signed up to provide comment on issues included on the meeting agenda. This agenda item was informational only, with no speakers or discussion taking place.

Approval of Summary

0:30

The council considered approval of the summary from their June 21, 2022, work session. Council members Ellinger and LeGris participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The council voted to approve the summary of the June 21, 2022, work session without any recorded objections or concerns raised during the discussion.

Outcome: Approved

New Business

1:00

The council addressed new business items during this portion of the meeting. Council members Plomin and McCurn were the key speakers who participated in the discussion of the new business matters.

The council ultimately approved the new business items that were presented, though the specific details of what was discussed or the nature of the items were not detailed in the available materials.

Outcome: Approved

Continuing Business/Presentations

2:00

CAO Hamilton provided an update to the council regarding the allocation of budget stabilization funds to The Lexington History Museum. The presentation served as an informational briefing on the status of this funding allocation.

The discussion focused on how budget stabilization funds were being directed to support The Lexington History Museum's operations. CAO Hamilton delivered the update as part of the continuing business portion of the meeting, indicating this was an ongoing matter that had been previously discussed by the council.

No specific details about the funding amount, timeline, or conditions of the allocation were captured in the available meeting materials. The presentation appeared to be primarily informational in nature, with CAO Hamilton serving as the sole presenter on this agenda item.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, suggesting that no formal action or vote was required from the council members at this time. The update likely served to keep council members informed about the progress of the budget stabilization fund allocation to the museum.

Council Reports

60:00

During the Council Reports segment, four council members provided updates on various community matters and upcoming events.

Key Participants: - Reynolds - Lamb - Legris - Kloiber

The council members discussed a range of topics including upcoming community events and ongoing local issues affecting residents. Each member had the opportunity to share information relevant to their respective areas of focus and committee work.

This portion of the meeting served an informational purpose, allowing council members to keep their colleagues and the public informed about current developments and initiatives within the community. The reports covered various aspects of municipal operations and community engagement activities.

The discussion format enabled council members to provide updates without requiring formal votes or decisions, maintaining the informational nature of this agenda item. This regular reporting mechanism helps ensure transparency and keeps all stakeholders informed about ongoing municipal activities and upcoming events that may be of interest to residents.

No specific actions or resolutions emerged from these reports, as the segment was designed primarily for information sharing among council members and the public.

Mayor's Report

80:00

Mayor Gorton delivered a report addressing the recent Supreme Court decision regarding Roe v. Wade and its potential implications for the community.

Key Speaker: • Mayor Gorton

Presentation Summary: The Mayor provided commentary on the Supreme Court's ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, discussing how this federal decision might affect local policies and residents. The report was informational in nature, with Mayor Gorton sharing the administration's perspective on this significant legal development.

Outcome: This was an informational presentation with no formal action taken by the council. The Mayor's remarks served to inform the public and council members about the administration's position regarding the Supreme Court decision and its potential local ramifications.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

85:00

During the public comment period for issues not on the agenda, one community member addressed the council.

Dottie Bean spoke to the council regarding the relocation of the police roll call center. No additional details about the specific concerns or proposals related to this relocation were provided in the available meeting materials.

This was an informational item with no action taken by the council, as is standard for public comment periods on non-agenda items.