Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on October 18, 2022, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed five agenda items, including routine business and council reports.

During the session, the council took three votes and heard one public comment on agenda-related issues. The meeting followed standard procedures with approval of the meeting summary and consideration of new business items, both of which were approved by the council. The session concluded with informational council reports before adjournment.

Attendance

The following members were present at the October 18, 2022 meeting:

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

Absent: • Plomin

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 14 members were present and 1 member was absent.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included three motions, all of which passed by voice vote.

Approval of Work Session Summary 0:30 Ellinger made a motion to approve the work session summary from October 11, which was seconded by Baxter. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Approval of New Business 1:30 The Vice Mayor made a motion to approve new business, with Baxter providing the second. This motion also passed by voice vote without recorded opposition.

Memorandums of Understanding Motion 10:30 Fred Brown made a motion to instruct the administration to work on memorandums of understanding with fire and corrections departments. Worley seconded the motion, and it passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

All three votes were conducted as voice votes rather than roll call votes, so individual member positions were not formally recorded. No conditions or amendments were attached to any of the approved motions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council addressed eight financial items totaling over $1.1 million in contracts and grants during the meeting.

Contracts Approved:

• L1030-22: Approved a $47,579 contract with Stryker for maintenance service of EMS stretchers and loading systems

• L1037-22: Authorized a $120,000 contract with the University of Kentucky's Kentucky Transportation Center to develop an optimized model of snowplow routes for LFUCG

• L1040-22: Approved a contract with Bluegrass Valuation Group, LLC and E. Clark Toleman for real estate appraisal services supporting the Sanitary and Storm Sewer Capital Improvement Programs

• L1045-22: Authorized modifications to existing agreements with the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, Division of Emergency Management for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)

• L1046-22: Approved a $242,967 contract with Management Registry Inc. to provide support staff for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)

• L1047-22: Authorized a $9,635 Professional Services Agreement with Angela Wallace for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner services

Grant Acceptances:

• L1044-22: Accepted a $616,704 federal award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Barrier Free Re-Entry and Recovery Initiative (BFREE)

• L1048-22: Accepted $144,461 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Justice for equipment and technology investments for the Lexington Police Department

The approved items support various city operations including emergency medical services, winter road maintenance, infrastructure improvements, emergency preparedness, public safety, and re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the board regarding concerns about a pilot program under consideration.

Dottie Bean spoke about a pilot program that had been discussed in a recent committee meeting 55:00. Bean expressed concern about the lack of public awareness surrounding the program and emphasized the importance of conducting public hearings before any approval process moves forward. She advocated for greater transparency and community input in the decision-making process for this initiative.

The public comment period provided an opportunity for community engagement on matters being considered by the board, with Bean's remarks highlighting the importance of public participation in municipal decision-making processes.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one primary contested item that generated community discussion and concern.

Memorandum of Understanding with Police

Fred Brown presented a proposal for establishing a memorandum of understanding with police, fire, and corrections departments aimed at improving recruitment and retention within these public safety sectors. The proposal drew significant community attention, with residents expressing both interest and concern about the potential agreement.

The nature of the community opposition centered around questions regarding the specific terms and implications of such a memorandum of understanding. Community members sought clarification on how this agreement would function and what commitments it would entail for the municipality.

While the extracted data indicates that Brown discussed the need for this memorandum and that it generated community response, the specific details of the opposition arguments, the names of community members who spoke against or in favor of the proposal, and the ultimate outcome of this agenda item are not provided in the available materials.

The discussion represents a common municipal challenge where public safety recruitment and retention initiatives must balance operational needs with community concerns about police and corrections policies. Such memorandums of understanding typically involve resource sharing, training coordination, or mutual aid agreements between jurisdictions, though the specific scope of this proposal was not detailed in the extracted information.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00

The meeting opened with an opportunity for public comment on issues listed on the agenda. This standard agenda item allows community members to address the governing body regarding any matters scheduled for discussion during the meeting.

No specific speakers, presentations, or comments were recorded during this portion of the meeting. The item served as an informational component, providing the required public participation opportunity as part of the meeting's formal proceedings.

The outcome was informational, with the meeting proceeding to subsequent agenda items following the completion of the public comment period.

Approval of Summary

0:30

The council considered approval of the summary from the October 11 work session. Council members Ellinger and Baxter participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The council voted to approve the summary of the October 11 work session without recorded debate or concerns raised during the meeting.

Outcome: Approved

New Business

1:30

The council addressed new business items during this portion of the meeting. The Vice Mayor and council member Baxter served as the key speakers for this agenda item.

The new business items were presented as a resolution to the council for consideration and approval. While the specific details of the individual business items were not detailed in the available materials, the council proceeded with discussion and deliberation on the matters at hand.

Following the presentation and any discussion that took place, the council voted on the new business resolution. The outcome was approval of the new business items as presented.

The resolution format suggests these were formal matters requiring official council action rather than informational items or routine administrative business.

Council Reports

2:00

Council members provided updates on various community activities and initiatives during the reports portion of the meeting. Multiple council members participated in sharing information with their colleagues and the public.

The following council members delivered reports:

• Sheehan - Provided updates on community matters
• Baxter - Shared information on local initiatives
• Plomin - Reported on ongoing projects
• McCurn - Delivered updates on municipal activities
• Fred Brown - Presented information on community developments
• LeGris - Provided reports on local matters
• Moloney - Shared updates on city initiatives
• Lamb - Reported on community activities
• Reynolds - Delivered information on ongoing projects
• J. Brown - Provided updates on municipal matters
• Bledsoe - Shared reports on local developments

The council reports served as an informational session, allowing elected officials to keep their colleagues and the public informed about various activities, meetings, and initiatives they have been involved with throughout the community. This agenda item provided an opportunity for transparency and communication regarding the council members' work on behalf of their constituents.

No formal action was taken during this portion of the meeting, as the reports were purely informational in nature. The extensive participation from eleven council members demonstrates active engagement in community affairs and ongoing municipal business across various areas of responsibility.

Adjournment

The meeting was formally adjourned by Baxter 60:00. The adjournment motion was approved, bringing the proceedings to a close.

No additional discussion or debate occurred regarding the adjournment of the meeting.