Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee convened on July 5, 2022, at 1:00 PM, with F. Brown presiding as the meeting officer. The committee addressed three informational agenda items during the session, focusing on key infrastructure and environmental initiatives affecting the community.

The meeting featured presentations on the North Limestone Road Diet traffic engineering project, the 5-Year Solid Waste Plan, and an Urban Forestry/Street Trees Update. All three agenda items were presented for informational purposes, providing committee members with updates on ongoing environmental and public works initiatives. The committee conducted five motions and votes throughout the session, demonstrating active deliberation on the matters at hand.

Public participation was represented through two public comments, allowing community members to share their perspectives on the issues being discussed. The meeting covered critical areas of municipal responsibility including traffic management, waste management planning, and urban environmental stewardship through tree maintenance and forestry programs.

Attendance

Present: F. Brown, Ellinger, Moloney, McCurn, Sheehan, Kloiber, Bledsoe

Absent: Kay, LeGris, Worley

Late: None

Seven members were present for the July 5, 2022 meeting, with three members absent and no late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took action on five motions during the July 5, 2022 meeting.

Approval of May 3, 2022 Committee Summary Ellinger moved to approve the May 3, 2022 committee summary, seconded by Bledsoe. The motion passed unanimously.

Greenspace Commission Code Repeal Ellinger moved to repeal sections of the code of ordinances related to the Greenspace Commission, seconded by Sheehan. The motion passed unanimously.

Greenspace Trust Amendments Ellinger moved to accept amendments to the Greenspace Trust, seconded by Sheehan. The motion passed unanimously.

Amendment to Remove "or Work" Language Kloiber moved to remove "or work" from the amendments in the packet, seconded by Bledsoe. This motion failed on a roll call vote with 3 ayes and 4 nays. Voting in favor were Bledsoe, Kloiber, and McCurn. Voting against were Ellinger, F. Brown, Moloney, and Sheehan.

Citation Officers Code Amendment Moloney moved to amend section 14-10(f)(5) of the code of ordinances related to citation officers, seconded by Kloiber. The motion passed unanimously.

Four of the five motions passed unanimously, with only the motion to remove "or work" language failing by a narrow margin. The committee successfully approved routine business including meeting minutes and made several changes to municipal code sections related to the Greenspace Commission and citation officers.

Public Comment

Two residents spoke during the public comment period, both addressing the North Limestone Road Diet proposal.

Dave Cooper 2:00 expressed support for the road diet proposal, emphasizing that it would improve safety conditions for cyclists using North Limestone. Cooper offered a specific suggestion to enhance the proposal, recommending the addition of lighted "do not enter" signs to improve visibility during nighttime hours.

Alan Bartley 3:00 also voiced support for the road diet proposal. Identifying himself as both a downtown resident and cyclist, Bartley brought a user perspective to his comments. While supporting the overall concept, he suggested a modification to the bike lane placement, recommending that the bike lane be positioned on the right side of parked cars rather than the proposed configuration, citing safety concerns as the rationale for this adjustment.

Both speakers demonstrated support for the road diet concept while offering constructive suggestions for implementation details focused on safety improvements for cyclists and motorists.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

Amendments to the Greenspace Trust

The primary point of contention involved proposed changes to the membership requirements for the Greenspace Trust. A motion was presented to remove the phrase "or work" from the existing membership criteria, which would have narrowed the eligibility requirements for trust membership.

The proposal generated significant disagreement among council members, reflecting differing perspectives on how inclusive the trust's membership should be. The debate centered on whether the current language that allows people who work in the area to participate should be maintained or eliminated.

When the motion came to a vote, it failed by a narrow margin of 3-4, with three members supporting the removal of "or work" from the requirements and four members opposing the change. This close vote demonstrates the divided opinion on the issue, with nearly half of the voting members favoring more restrictive membership criteria while a slim majority preferred to maintain the current, more inclusive language.

The failed motion means the Greenspace Trust membership requirements will retain the existing "or work" provision, allowing both residents and those who work in the area to qualify for membership. The split vote highlights ongoing tensions regarding the scope and accessibility of community trust participation.

Traffic Engineering: North Limestone Road Diet

0:30

Grace Foley presented the North Limestone Road Diet proposal during this informational session. The proposal focuses on redesigning North Limestone Street to address current safety concerns and improve traffic conditions for all users.

The road diet plan aims to reduce speeding along the corridor by reallocating existing road space. Key components of the proposal include:

• Converting vehicle travel lanes to create dedicated bike lanes
• Adding parking buffers to provide separation between parked cars and moving traffic
• Implementing traffic calming measures to encourage safer driving speeds

Foley explained that the current configuration contributes to speeding problems that pose safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. The proposed changes would maintain traffic flow while creating a more balanced street design that accommodates multiple transportation modes.

The road diet approach involves narrowing or reducing the number of vehicle travel lanes without necessarily reducing the overall street width. Instead, the reclaimed space would be repurposed for bicycle infrastructure and enhanced parking areas with buffer zones.

This presentation was informational in nature, providing city officials and the public with details about the traffic engineering analysis and proposed improvements. No formal action was taken during this agenda item, as the purpose was to present the findings and recommendations for the North Limestone corridor.

The proposal represents part of broader efforts to improve street safety and create more complete streets that serve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists throughout the city's transportation network.

5-Year Solid Waste Plan

4:00

The committee received a presentation on the 5-Year Solid Waste Plan during agenda item III. Commissioner Albright served as the key speaker for this informational presentation.

The discussion focused on updates to the county's waste management strategies and outlined future goals for solid waste handling over the next five years. A notable component of the plan includes exploring bio-digestion systems as part of the county's waste management approach.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing committee members with an overview of the strategic direction for solid waste management in the coming years. The bio-digestion systems represent a potential advancement in the county's waste processing capabilities, though specific implementation details were not elaborated upon in the available summary.

This agenda item served to keep committee members informed about long-term planning efforts for solid waste management and the county's consideration of new technologies and approaches to handle waste more effectively.

Urban Forestry/Street Trees Update

5:00 Heather Wilson presented an informational update on Lexington's urban forestry and street tree programs during agenda item IV.

The presentation covered several key areas of the city's urban forestry initiatives:

• Staff Changes: Wilson discussed recent personnel updates within the urban forestry program that affect the department's capacity and operations.

• Tree Maintenance Programs: The update included information about ongoing tree maintenance activities and how these programs are being managed to ensure the health and safety of Lexington's urban canopy.

• Future Initiatives: Wilson outlined upcoming plans and initiatives designed to enhance and expand Lexington's tree canopy coverage throughout the city.

The presentation was purely informational, with Wilson providing council members and the public with a comprehensive overview of the current state of the urban forestry program. The update appears to be part of regular reporting to keep stakeholders informed about the city's environmental and infrastructure management efforts related to trees and urban canopy preservation.

No specific concerns were raised during this agenda item, and no action was required from the council. The update served to maintain transparency about the city's ongoing environmental stewardship efforts and keep the community informed about how Lexington is managing its urban forest resources.