Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on September 13, 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 10 agenda items during the session, covering a range of municipal business including zoning matters, budget amendments, and various administrative items.

The council conducted 12 formal votes throughout the meeting, approving several key items including requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, new business items, and the mayor's report. The meeting included both continuing business and presentations as part of the informational portions of the agenda.

Public participation was facilitated through two separate comment periods, with citizens providing a total of 5 public comments. The first public comment period addressed issues that were on the meeting agenda, while the second period allowed for comments on matters not specifically listed on the agenda. The meeting concluded with formal adjournment following the completion of all scheduled business items.

Attendance

The following members were present at the September 13, 2022 meeting:

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

Absent: • Worley • Plomin

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The Council took twelve votes during the September 13, 2022 meeting, with eleven passing unanimously and one passing with a single dissenting vote.

Procedural Approvals • Motion by Ellinger, seconded by McCurn to approve the September 8, 2022 Council meeting docket passed unanimously (13-0) • Motion by Lamb, seconded by McCurn to place an AVOL Dining Out for Life presentation on the September 8, 2022 Council meeting docket passed unanimously (13-0) • Motion by Kay, seconded by LeGris to approve the Summary passed unanimously (13-0)

Budget and Financial Matters • Motion by Sheehan, seconded by McCurn to approve budget amendments passed unanimously (13-0) • Motion by McCurn, seconded by Kay to approve neighborhood development funds passed unanimously (13-0) • Motion by Reynolds, seconded by Ellinger to amend the NDF list to add $800.00 allocation to Acclivity Dance & Performing Arts, LLC passed unanimously (13-0)

New Business and Ordinances • Motion by Baxter, seconded by Reynolds to approve New Business passed 12-1, with Moloney voting against items F and H • Motion by Lamb, seconded by Baxter to approve a draft ordinance amending Section 12-1 of the Code of Ordinances related to property maintenance code passed unanimously (13-0)

Police Matters • Motion by Moloney, seconded by Ellinger to open the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Police to examine recruitment and retention improvements passed unanimously (13-0) • Motion by Kay, seconded by Ellinger to amend and instruct administration to work on MOUs with police for recruitment and retention passed unanimously (13-0)

Final Actions • Motion by Ellinger, seconded by Kay to approve the Mayor's Report passed unanimously (13-0) • Motion by Bledsoe, seconded by Kay for adjournment passed unanimously (13-0)

All thirteen council members participated in the voting: Kay, Moloney, Ellinger, J. Brown, McCurn, LeGris, Lamb, Sheehan, Kloiber, F. Brown, Baxter, Bledsoe, and Reynolds.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial items totaling over $2.6 million in expenditures and grant funding.

Emergency Medical Equipment Purchase The council considered Resolution L0897-22 for the purchase of a Handtevy Pediatric Emergency Standards system at a cost of $30,785.35. This system will provide standardized emergency medical protocols for pediatric care.

Homelessness Prevention Grant A substantial grant funding item, Resolution L0910-22, involves $2,432,934 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are designated for operating programs aimed at reducing homelessness throughout Fayette County, representing the largest financial commitment discussed at the meeting.

Transportation Infrastructure Grant Resolution L0911-22 addresses $177,000 in federal funds from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. This funding will support the design phase of the Alumni Drive Shared Use Path Project, which will create pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in the community.

The three financial actions represent a mix of direct municipal purchases and federal grant funding, with the homelessness prevention program comprising the majority of the total financial commitment. The items span public safety equipment, social services, and transportation infrastructure development.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, five council members addressed various community concerns and policy proposals 0:00.

Public Safety and Gun Violence Council Member Reynolds opened the discussion by expressing concern over recent gun violence incidents in Lexington. Reynolds emphasized the critical need for both community involvement and legislative changes to effectively address the ongoing violence issue 0:00.

Council Member Lamb focused on the importance of clear and accurate public messaging regarding safety measures and city decisions. Lamb stressed that transparent communication with residents is essential for maintaining public trust and understanding 0:00.

Council Member Ellinger shared personal observations from witnessing police work during a recent night of violence in the city. Based on these experiences, Ellinger emphasized the urgent need for additional resources and support for public safety personnel to effectively serve the community 0:00.

Community Engagement Council Member Bledsoe highlighted recent community events and stressed the importance of public participation in supporting safety initiatives and honoring public service. Bledsoe encouraged continued community involvement in these efforts 0:00.

Housing Policy Council Member Moloney shifted focus to housing issues, proposing a review of a tenant bill of rights for Lexington. Moloney outlined the need to address various problems faced by renters, including landlord abuses and substandard housing conditions. This proposal aims to establish stronger protections for tenants in the city 0:00.

The comments reflected ongoing concerns about public safety, community engagement, and housing policy, with council members emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches to address these interconnected issues affecting Lexington residents.

Contested Items

The meeting on September 13, 2022, featured limited disagreement among board members, with only one contested matter arising during the approval of new business items.

Approval of New Business Items F and H

The primary point of contention occurred during the consideration of new business agenda items. While the majority of board members voted to approve the new business items, board member Moloney cast dissenting votes specifically on items F and H. The nature of Moloney's objections to these particular items was not detailed in the available meeting materials.

Despite Moloney's opposition, both items F and H passed with the support of the remaining board members, resulting in a split vote rather than unanimous approval. The specific content and subject matter of items F and H that prompted Moloney's dissent were not elaborated upon in the meeting records.

This represented the sole instance of divided opinion during the meeting, with all other agenda items appearing to receive unanimous support from the board members present.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

The council opened the floor for public comments on issues listed on the agenda during this portion of the September 13, 2022 meeting. This agenda item, designated as Item I, provided an opportunity for community members to address the council regarding any matters scheduled for discussion during the meeting.

No specific transcript timestamp is available for this agenda item, and no individual speakers were identified in the available meeting records. The session was designated as informational in nature, serving as a standard procedural component of the meeting to ensure public participation in the governmental process.

This public comment period is a routine element of council meetings, allowing residents and stakeholders to voice their opinions, concerns, or support for agenda items before the council proceeds with formal discussion and potential action on those matters.

Requested Rezonings/ Docket Approval

The council considered agenda item II regarding the approval of the docket for the September 8, 2022 Council meeting. This administrative item involved reviewing and formally approving the meeting agenda and associated materials.

Key speakers during this discussion included Ellinger and McCurn, who addressed the docket approval process. The item was presented as a standard procedural matter requiring council authorization to proceed with the previously scheduled meeting agenda.

The council ultimately approved the docket for the September 8, 2022 Council meeting without significant debate or opposition recorded in the available materials.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Approval of Summary

The council considered agenda item III, the approval of the summary from the previous meeting. The discussion involved key speakers Kay and LeGris.

The council reviewed the summary document from their prior meeting session. Following the presentation and any necessary discussion of the summary contents, the council proceeded to vote on the approval.

The agenda item was successfully approved by the council, indicating that the members found the summary to be an accurate representation of the previous meeting's proceedings and decisions.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Budget Amendments

The council considered and approved budget amendments during agenda item IV. Council members Sheehan and McCurn were the key speakers during the discussion of this resolution.

The meeting materials indicate that budget amendments were presented to the council for consideration, though specific details about the nature, scope, or dollar amounts of the proposed amendments are not available in the provided documentation.

The council ultimately approved the budget amendments as presented. No information is available regarding any concerns raised during the discussion or debate on this item.

*Note: Transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item, and specific details about the amendments discussed were not included in the available meeting materials.*

New Business

The council addressed several new business items during agenda item V. The discussion involved key contributions from council members Baxter and Reynolds.

The council voted to approve the new business items presented, though the approval was not unanimous. Items F and H within the new business section received one dissenting vote each, while the remaining items appear to have passed with full council support.

While the specific details of what was discussed for each new business item are not available in the meeting records, the voting pattern suggests that most items were non-controversial and received broad council support. However, items F and H generated enough concern from at least one council member to warrant opposition votes.

The overall outcome was approval of the new business items, allowing the council to move forward with the proposed initiatives despite the limited dissent on two specific items.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Continuing Business/ Presentations

The council addressed ongoing business matters and received presentations during this agenda item. The discussion included input from council members McCurn and Kay, who served as key speakers for this portion of the meeting.

The presentations included a summary from the Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee, providing updates on the committee's recent activities and ongoing initiatives. This summary allowed the full council to stay informed about the committee's work and any matters that may require future council consideration.

The agenda item served an informational purpose, allowing council members to receive updates on continuing business matters and stay current on various municipal activities. No specific actions or votes were taken during this portion of the meeting, as the focus was on information sharing and maintaining awareness of ongoing city operations.

This type of continuing business presentation is a regular feature of council meetings, ensuring that all members remain informed about the various committees' work and can coordinate their efforts across different areas of municipal governance.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this agenda item.*

Council Reports

During the Council Reports segment of the September 13, 2022 meeting, council members Moloney and Kay provided updates on various municipal matters and community activities.

The reports covered topics including public safety issues and upcoming community events, though specific details of the presentations were not captured in the available meeting documentation. This agenda item served as an informational session where council members shared updates relevant to their respective areas of responsibility and community engagement.

Council member Moloney and Council member Kay were the primary speakers during this portion of the meeting, delivering their respective reports to inform both fellow council members and the public about ongoing municipal activities and initiatives.

As is typical for council report segments, no formal action was taken during this agenda item. The reports served their intended informational purpose, allowing council members to keep their colleagues and constituents informed about various aspects of city business and community developments.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Mayor's Report

The council considered agenda item VIII, the Mayor's Report, during the September 13, 2022 meeting. The discussion involved key speakers Ellinger and Kay.

The council approved the Mayor's report following the presentation and any discussion that took place. No specific details about the content of the report or the nature of the discussion were provided in the available meeting materials.

The item concluded with the council's approval of the Mayor's report.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and detailed discussion content were not available in the source materials for this agenda item.*

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

The council opened the floor for public comments on issues not listed on the agenda during this portion of the September 13, 2022 meeting. This agenda item, designated as Item IX, provided an opportunity for community members to address the council on matters of public concern that were not scheduled for formal discussion.

No specific transcript timestamp is available for this section of the meeting. The extracted data indicates this was an informational item with no recorded key speakers or specific topics raised during the public comment period.

This agenda item serves as a standard component of council meetings, allowing for public participation and ensuring community members have a forum to bring forward issues, concerns, or suggestions that may not have been included in the formal agenda. The outcome was recorded as informational, indicating that no formal action was taken by the council in response to any comments that may have been received.

The absence of recorded speakers or specific discussion points suggests either that no members of the public came forward to speak during this portion of the meeting, or that the details of any comments made were not captured in the available meeting documentation.

Adjournment

The meeting was brought to a close with agenda item X, the formal adjournment procedure. Key speakers during this final agenda item included Bledsoe and Kay.

The adjournment motion was presented and approved, officially ending the meeting session. No specific concerns or extended discussion were noted regarding the adjournment process.

The outcome was approved, allowing the meeting to conclude in accordance with standard procedural requirements.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this agenda item.*