Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on August 30, 2022, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed four agenda items, including an informational presentation on FY2023 Ad Valorem Taxes and three zoning-related matters that required council action. The council took three votes during the session, approving a zone change for Richmond Road, digital marquee signs in B-2B zones, and banquet facilities in B-3 zones. Two members of the public provided comments during the meeting's public comment period.

Attendance

The following members were present at the August 30, 2022 meeting:

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

Absent: • Lamb • Worley

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted three unanimous votes during the August 30, 2022 meeting, all occurring around the same time period.

Approval of Minutes 5:06 Mr. McCurn motioned to approve the Minutes of the August 18, 2022 Council Meeting, with Ms. Plomin providing the second. The motion passed unanimously with all 13 council members voting in favor: Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, and Sheehan.

Ordinances on Second Reading 5:06 Mr. Ellinger motioned for approval of ordinances on second reading, seconded by Mr. McCurn. The motion was approved by roll call vote with all 13 members voting yes: Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, and Sheehan. No members voted against or abstained.

Resolutions on Second Reading 5:06 Mr. Ellinger also motioned for approval of resolutions on second reading, with Vice Mayor Kay providing the second. This motion also passed unanimously by roll call vote, with the same 13 council members voting in favor: Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, and Sheehan.

All three votes resulted in unanimous approval with 13 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions, demonstrating complete council consensus on these matters.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several significant financial commitments totaling over $24 million across various municipal services and infrastructure projects.

Service Contracts

The council considered Resolution 0818-22 for facility management services at the Fayette County Courthouse, awarding a contract worth $524,867.37 to Meridian Management Corporation. Additionally, Resolution 0732-22 addressed animal control services, with Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control, LLC receiving a substantial $1,671,880 contract.

Equipment Purchase

Resolution 0778-22 authorized the purchase of a portable trash pump from Amco Pump Manufacturing, Inc. for $42,865, representing the smallest financial commitment among the items discussed.

Major Infrastructure Projects

Two significant infrastructure contracts dominated the financial agenda. Resolution 0800-22 approved the largest expenditure of the meeting: a $19,155,655 contract with Tribute Contracting & Consultants LLC for the East Hickman Force Main project. This represents a major investment in the city's wastewater infrastructure.

The second major infrastructure item, Resolution 0802-22, allocated $2,995,420 to Crom, LLC for Town Branch Concrete Repairs, addressing critical maintenance needs for existing municipal infrastructure.

Financial Summary

The combined value of all financial actions totaled approximately $24.39 million, with infrastructure projects accounting for over 90% of the total expenditures. The East Hickman Force Main project alone represented nearly 79% of all financial commitments discussed during the meeting, highlighting the significant investment in municipal utility infrastructure.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the council during the public comment period, raising concerns about city expenditures and proposed tax rates.

Dottie Bean 2:30:00 spoke about two separate issues affecting the city budget. She questioned both the cost and effectiveness of outdoor warning sirens, expressing skepticism about their value to the community. Bean also raised concerns about the significant expense associated with bathroom facilities at Woodland Park, specifically citing a half-million-dollar expenditure that she felt warranted closer scrutiny by the council.

Mat Minyard 2:33:00 addressed the proposed tax millage rate for the Soil and Water Conservation District. Minyard urged council members to reject the proposed rate increase, arguing that the district operates inefficiently and maintains unspent funds. He suggested that approving the additional tax burden would not be justified given the organization's current financial management and performance.

Both speakers focused their comments on fiscal responsibility and questioned whether proposed expenditures and tax increases represented appropriate use of public funds.

Appointments

The council made several appointments and reappointments to various boards and commissions during the meeting.

Affordable Housing Governing Board • John Atchison was appointed to the board • Barry Holmes was appointed to the board • Kyle Wicker was reappointed to the board

Explorium of Lexington Board of Directors • Jacinta Porter was reappointed to the board • Kimberly Skidmore was appointed to the board

Greenspace Trust • Gwendolyn Collins was reappointed to the trust

Senior Services Commission • Susan Bachner was reappointed to the commission • Sarah Eldridge was appointed to the commission

The appointments included both new members and the reappointment of existing members across multiple municipal boards and commissions. The Affordable Housing Governing Board received the most appointments with three members, including two new appointments and one reappointment.

Contested Items

Two items drew public opposition during the August 30, 2022 meeting, both involving community concerns about spending and fiscal priorities.

Outdoor Warning Sirens

A public commenter challenged the proposed outdoor warning sirens project, questioning both its cost-effectiveness and necessity. The commenter argued that the allocated funds could be better utilized for other community needs, raising concerns about whether the sirens represented the most efficient use of taxpayer money. The specific cost figures and the council's response to these concerns were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

Soil and Water Conservation District Tax Rate

The proposed tax rate for the Soil and Water Conservation District faced direct opposition from a community member who urged the council to reject the proposal. The commenter cited specific concerns about the district's operational efficiency, pointing to what they characterized as inefficiencies within the board's operations. Additionally, the commenter highlighted the existence of unspent funds, suggesting that the district was not effectively utilizing its current resources and therefore did not warrant additional tax revenue.

The commenter's opposition centered on fiscal responsibility arguments, questioning whether taxpayers should be asked to provide additional funding to an entity that allegedly had not demonstrated effective stewardship of existing resources.

The meeting materials do not indicate the final outcomes of either contested item or provide details about how the council responded to the public opposition. No timestamps are available for these public comment periods in the source materials provided.

Both contested items reflect broader community concerns about government spending priorities and accountability, with citizens questioning whether proposed expenditures represent the most effective use of public funds.

FY2023 Ad Valorem Taxes

5:06

The city held a public hearing regarding the proposed 2022 tax rates for fiscal year 2023 under agenda item 0827-22. Mayor Gorton presided over this presentation-style agenda item.

The hearing was conducted to allow public input on the proposed ad valorem tax rates for various districts within the city's jurisdiction for the upcoming fiscal year. Ad valorem taxes are property taxes assessed based on the value of real estate and personal property.

No members of the public came forward to provide comments during the hearing portion of this agenda item. The absence of public testimony indicated no immediate concerns or objections were raised by residents regarding the proposed tax rates.

This was an informational item that served the procedural requirement for public notification and input on tax rate proposals. The hearing provided the opportunity for community members to voice any concerns about the fiscal year 2023 tax rates before final adoption, though none chose to participate in the public comment period.

The agenda item fulfilled the city's obligation to conduct a public hearing on proposed tax rates, ensuring transparency in the municipal budgeting and taxation process for the upcoming fiscal year.

Zone Change for Richmond Road

5:06

The council considered Ordinance 0761-22, which proposed changing the zoning classification for properties on Richmond Road from Neighborhood Business (B-1) to Highway Service Business (B-3).

Mr. Ellinger served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the details of the proposed zone change to the council members.

The ordinance sought to reclassify specific properties along Richmond Road to allow for expanded commercial uses typical of highway service businesses. The B-3 zoning classification generally permits a broader range of commercial activities compared to the more restrictive B-1 neighborhood business designation.

The council approved the ordinance, allowing the zone change to move forward. This approval will enable the affected Richmond Road properties to operate under the expanded commercial use permissions associated with Highway Service Business zoning.

The specific properties affected by this zoning change and the rationale for the reclassification were not detailed in the available meeting materials, though the approval suggests the council found the proposed change appropriate for the area's development needs.

Digital Marquee Signs in B-2B Zone

5:06

The council considered Ordinance 0762-22, which would allow digital marquee signs in the Lexington Center Business (B-2B) Zone. Mr. Ellinger served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

The proposed ordinance represents a change to the existing zoning regulations for the B-2B district, specifically expanding the permitted signage types to include digital marquee displays. These electronic signs would provide businesses in the Lexington Center Business zone with enhanced advertising and communication capabilities.

The council approved the ordinance, allowing digital marquee signs to be installed and operated within the B-2B zoning district. This approval enables businesses in this commercial zone to utilize modern digital signage technology for their marketing and informational needs.

The ordinance passed without recorded opposition, suggesting consensus among council members regarding the benefits of modernizing signage options in this business district.

Banquet Facilities in B-3 Zone

5:06

The council considered Ordinance 0764-22, which would permit banquet facilities as an allowed use in the Highway Service Business (B-3) Zone. Mr. Ellinger presented the ordinance to the council.

The proposed ordinance would expand the permitted uses in the B-3 zoning district to include banquet facilities, which are currently not explicitly allowed in this commercial zone designation. The Highway Service Business zone typically accommodates businesses that serve travelers and the general public along major roadways.

The council approved the ordinance without recorded debate or opposition during this meeting session.

Outcome: Approved