Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on October 13, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice-Mayor Kay presiding over the session. The council addressed five agenda items during the meeting, ranging from routine administrative matters to policy discussions on local business regulations. The meeting included two informational presentations recognizing community programs, specifically honoring a Junior Fire Chief and acknowledging Long Term Care Residents' Rights Month.

Council members conducted four formal votes throughout the evening, approving the minutes from the previous September 22, 2022 meeting and passing an ordinance amending budgets for municipal expenditures. The council also held the first reading of an ordinance concerning Small Farm Micro-Distilleries, which will require additional review before final approval. Nine members of the public participated in the public comment portion of the meeting, providing community input on various local issues and concerns.

Attendance

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

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

Absent: Reynolds, Worley

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted four roll call votes during the meeting, with all measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 0982-22 3:00 - Amending certain budgets for municipal expenditures, FY 2023 Schedule No. 13, was motioned by Ms. Bledsoe and seconded by Mr. Ellinger. The ordinance passed with 14 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Sheehan, Baxter, and Bledsoe.

Resolution 0985-22 5:00 - Accepting the bid of Lagco, Inc. for Mechanical System Replacement for Fire Station #1, was motioned by Mr. J. Brown and seconded by Mr. McCurn. The resolution passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All 13 council members listed above voted in favor.

Resolution 0979-22 6:00 - Authorizing purchase of cardiac monitors from Zoll, was motioned by Mr. J. Brown and seconded by Ms. Plomin. The resolution passed with a unanimous vote of 14 ayes and 0 nays, with the same council members voting in favor.

Resolution 1051-22 7:00 - Agreement with Community Action Council for ONE Lexington Gun Violence Prevention Grant, was motioned by Mr. J. Brown and seconded by Ms. Plomin. This resolution also passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays, with all council members voting in favor.

All four measures received full council support with no opposition or abstentions recorded during the voting process.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council approved three significant financial items totaling $847,709.05 during the October 13, 2022 meeting.

Fire Station Infrastructure Resolution 0985-22 authorized a $525,400 contract with Lagco, Inc. for mechanical system replacement at Fire Station #1. This represents the largest single expenditure approved during the meeting.

Emergency Medical Equipment The council approved Resolution 0979-22 for the purchase of cardiac monitors from Zoll at a cost of $185,309.05. This equipment acquisition supports the city's emergency medical services capabilities.

Community Grant Funding Resolution 1051-22 allocated $137,000 for the ONE Lexington Gun Violence Prevention Grant Programming. The Community Action Council will receive these funds to implement violence prevention initiatives in the community.

These three resolutions demonstrate the council's focus on critical infrastructure maintenance, emergency services equipment, and community safety programming. The fire station mechanical system replacement represents ongoing maintenance of essential public safety facilities, while the cardiac monitor purchase ensures emergency responders have current medical technology. The gun violence prevention grant reflects the city's commitment to addressing community safety through programming and intervention efforts.

Public Comment

Nine residents addressed the council during the public comment period, covering topics ranging from housing policy to employee compensation and city resolutions.

Housing and Tenant Rights

Multiple speakers advocated for stronger tenant protections and a Tenants' Bill of Rights. Charles Stark 3:30 spoke about the need for such legislation while sharing personal experiences with housing insecurity. Asan Gatewood 4:00 also shared personal experiences with housing insecurity and supported the Tenants' Bill of Rights proposal.

Stephanie Hensley 4:30 described her struggles with unsafe housing conditions and called for stronger tenant protections. Joyce Bolton 5:00 similarly shared experiences with poor housing conditions and advocated for a Tenants' Bill of Rights. Rock Daniels 6:00 discussed affordable housing issues more broadly and also called for increased transparency in council spending.

Employee Compensation Study

Two city employees raised concerns about the compensation study under consideration. Rob Wilson from Fleet Services 2:00 expressed concerns that the study does not adequately address retention and progression opportunities for current employees. Dani Wood 5:30 also voiced concerns about the compensation study, stating it would negatively impact some employees.

Other Issues

Dottie Bean 1:00 spoke in opposition to a resolution regarding ONE Lexington, questioning whether the agencies involved have adequate qualifications for handling weapons. Brittanie Price 2:30 read a letter regarding her certification as a nurse's aide and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to address the council.

The public comment period highlighted significant community concerns about housing conditions and tenant rights, as well as employee compensation issues within city government.

Appointments

The council took action on several board and commission appointments during the meeting.

Reappointments: • Andrew Stramer was reappointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board • Kelly Weber was reappointed to the Senior Services Commission

New Appointments: • Diane Fleet was appointed to the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board • Toa Green was appointed to the Lexington Convention Center and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors • Elizabeth Adams was appointed to the Library Board of Advisors • Daryl Privott was appointed to the Library Board of Advisors

The appointments included positions across various city boards and commissions, ranging from emergency medical services oversight to library governance and tourism promotion. Two individuals received reappointments to continue their service, while four new members were appointed to fill vacant positions on their respective boards.

Contested Items

The October 13, 2022 meeting featured significant community opposition on two key issues during the public comment period.

Compensation Study

Several community speakers raised concerns about the city's compensation study, arguing that it fails to adequately address employee retention and career progression for current staff members. The speakers contended that while the study may address certain compensation issues, it does not provide sufficient solutions for keeping existing employees or creating clear pathways for advancement within city departments. The nature and extent of the council's response to these concerns was not specified in the available materials.

Affordable Housing and Tenants' Rights

Multiple speakers advocated for the implementation of a Tenants' Bill of Rights, with several community members sharing personal experiences related to housing insecurity and substandard living conditions. These speakers used their public comment time to highlight ongoing housing challenges in the community and pressed for stronger tenant protections. The personal testimonies appeared to focus on the need for enhanced rights and protections for renters facing difficult housing situations.

Both contested items involved community members expressing opposition or concerns about current city policies or the lack thereof. The compensation study opposition centered on perceived inadequacies in addressing employee retention, while the affordable housing discussion involved residents advocating for new tenant protection measures. The outcomes of these public comments and any subsequent council action were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

Minutes of the September 22, 2022 Council Meeting

0:30

The Council considered agenda item 1050-22, the approval of minutes from the September 22, 2022 Council meeting. Mr. Ellinger and Ms. Plomin participated in the discussion of this procedural item.

The minutes were presented for Council review and approval as part of the standard meeting protocol. No specific concerns or amendments were raised regarding the accuracy or completeness of the September 22, 2022 meeting record.

The Council voted unanimously to approve the minutes as presented, allowing them to become part of the official record.

Junior Fire Chief

1:30

The Lexington city government recognized a young community member with a special proclamation during agenda item 0960-22. Vice-Mayor Kay read an official proclamation declaring October 13, 2022, as Junior Fire Chief Reese Tumlinson Day in Lexington.

The presentation was led by Vice-Mayor Kay, with participation from Chief Wells of the fire department. This ceremonial agenda item served as an informational presentation to honor the designated junior fire chief.

The proclamation represents the city's recognition of youth involvement in community safety initiatives and the fire department's outreach programs. No debate or discussion was recorded for this agenda item, as it was a straightforward ceremonial presentation.

The outcome was informational, with the proclamation officially read into the record during the meeting proceedings.

Long Term Care Residents' Rights Month

2:00

Vice-Mayor Kay and Denise Wells presented agenda item 0988-22, a proclamation declaring October 2022 as National Long-term Care Residence Month in Lexington. The presentation was informational in nature, with officials reading the formal proclamation to recognize the importance of long-term care facilities and the rights of their residents.

The proclamation highlighted the significance of acknowledging the contributions of long-term care facilities in the community and emphasized the fundamental rights that residents of these facilities possess. This annual recognition serves to raise awareness about the quality of care and dignity that should be afforded to all long-term care residents.

No debate or concerns were raised during this agenda item, as it was a ceremonial proclamation. The presentation concluded without requiring any formal vote or action from the council, serving purely as an informational item to officially recognize October 2022 as National Long-term Care Residence Month in Lexington.

Ordinance amending budgets for municipal expenditures

3:00

The council considered Ordinance 0982-22, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures.

Ms. Bledsoe and Mr. Ellinger served as the key speakers for this agenda item, presenting the proposed budget amendments to the council. The ordinance addresses adjustments needed to align the city's budgets with current operational and financial requirements.

The ordinance was approved by the council following the presentation and discussion by the designated speakers. No additional details about specific budget categories, dollar amounts, or concerns raised during the deliberation were captured in the available meeting data.

This budget amendment represents part of the ongoing municipal financial management process to ensure city expenditures remain properly authorized and aligned with current needs.

Ordinance for Small Farm Micro-Distilleries

3:30

The council considered Ordinance 0940-22, which would create a new conditional use permit for Small Farm Micro-Distilleries in the Agricultural-Rural Zone. Ms. Lamb presented the ordinance during the meeting.

The proposed ordinance would establish a regulatory framework allowing small-scale distillery operations on agricultural properties, subject to conditional use permit requirements. This would enable farmers and rural property owners to add value to their agricultural products through on-site distillation while maintaining the agricultural character of the zone.

The ordinance received its first reading during the meeting. As a first reading, no final action was taken, and the ordinance will need to return for additional readings and potential amendments before final adoption.

The creation of this new conditional use category represents an effort to support agricultural diversification and rural economic development while ensuring appropriate oversight through the conditional use permit process. The Agricultural-Rural Zone designation ensures that such operations would be limited to appropriate rural settings rather than more densely populated areas.

Further details about specific operational requirements, permit conditions, and regulatory standards will likely be discussed in subsequent readings as the ordinance moves through the approval process.