Urban County Council Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on November 3, 2022, at 6:00 PM in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed six agenda items, including ceremonial proceedings, legislative business, and policy discussions. Council members conducted seven votes during the session, covering second readings of ordinances and resolutions, a capital expenditure policy amendment, and housing shortage initiatives. The meeting also featured one public comment period and included a proclamation recognizing Lexington Fire Ladies Day. Key accomplishments included the approval of multiple ordinances and resolutions on second reading, adoption of amendments to the capital expenditure policy, and formal discussion of housing shortage issues facing the community.

Attendance

The following members were present at the November 3, 2022 meeting:

Present: • Ellinger • Kay • Kloiber • Lamb • LeGris • Moloney • Plomin • Reynolds • Sheehan • Baxter • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • McCurn (arrived late) • Worley (arrived late)

Absent: None

Late Arrivals: • McCurn • Worley

All 15 members were ultimately present for the meeting, with McCurn and Worley arriving after the scheduled start time. No members were absent from the November 3, 2022 session.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included seven motions, all of which passed with strong support from council members.

Postponement of Presentation 6:04 Bledsoe motioned to postpone the Dunbar High School Boys' Soccer Team presentation, seconded by Plomin. The motion passed unanimously with all 15 members voting in favor: Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, and J. Brown.

Legislative Approvals 6:29 Ellinger motioned to approve the second reading of ordinances, seconded by Kay. The roll call vote passed 15-0 with all members supporting. Baxter then motioned to approve the second reading of resolutions, seconded by Plomin, which also passed unanimously 15-0.

Emergency Resolutions 6:29 J. Brown motioned to suspend rules and approve a resolution for a Grayshift LLC agreement, seconded by McCurn. This passed 14-0, with Kay absent from this vote. J. Brown also motioned to suspend rules and approve a resolution to donate a 2005 Ford Explorer, seconded by Plomin. This motion similarly passed 14-0 with Kay absent.

Policy and Committee Actions 6:29 Lamb motioned to amend the Capital Expenditure Policy, seconded by LeGris. The motion passed 14-0 with Kay absent. Finally, Worley motioned to place the housing shortage topic in the Planning and Public Safety Committee, seconded by McCurn. This motion also passed 14-0 with Kay absent.

All votes demonstrated strong council unity, with no opposition votes recorded on any motion. Kay's absence from the final five votes reduced the voting body from 15 to 14 members for those decisions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed multiple financial items totaling over $3.2 million in expenditures, contracts, and grant acceptances across various county departments and services.

Equipment and Maintenance Purchases: • $47,579 for maintenance service for Stryker Stretchers from Stryker • $147,528.86 for ongoing software maintenance services for PeopleSoft Financials and Human Capital Management modules from Oracle America, Inc.

Service Contracts: • $120,000 contract with the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Transportation Center for Snowplow Route Optimization Services • $242,967 contract with Management Registry, Inc. for Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) support staff • $691,174 contract with Systems & Software, Inc. to upgrade the EnQuesta system for the Division of Revenue • $900,000 contract with Hazen and Sawyer, P.S.C. for Sanitary Sewer Remedial Measures Program Management Consulting Services

Federal Grant Acceptances: • $616,704 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Barrier Free Re-Entry and Recovery Initiative (BFREE) • $144,461 from the U.S. Department of Justice through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program • $175,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for the Law Enforcement Mental Health & Wellness Act Grant program • $134,713 in additional grant funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

The largest single expenditure was the $900,000 consulting contract for sanitary sewer program management, while the most significant grant acceptance was $616,704 for the re-entry and recovery initiative. These financial actions span multiple county operations including emergency services, public works, revenue management, law enforcement, and community development programs.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the board regarding affordable housing concerns.

Dottie Bean spoke about the Hope VI project, raising questions about the project's financial management and outcomes for original residents 6:29. Bean expressed concerns about how funds were utilized in the Hope VI initiative and questioned how many of the original residents were able to return to the development after completion. She requested that officials provide a public accounting of how the Hope VI project was handled, seeking greater transparency in the project's implementation and results.

The Hope VI program is a federal initiative designed to revitalize severely distressed public housing developments through demolition, rehabilitation, or new construction, typically involving mixed-income housing strategies.

Appointments

The meeting included three personnel appointments to various city divisions.

Karrie Kelley was appointed as Administrative Specialist in the Division of Police.

Lindsay Medley was appointed as Social Worker Sr. in the Division of Aging and Disability Services.

Richard Sheehy was appointed as Administrative Specialist in the Division of Planning.

All three individuals received appointments to their respective positions during the November 3, 2022 meeting.

Invocation

6:04

Rev. Micah Gaines, Worship Pastor of Consolidated Baptist Church, delivered the invocation to open the meeting. The invocation served as the ceremonial beginning of the proceedings, providing a moment of reflection before the start of official business.

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no discussion or debate following the prayer.

Lexington Fire Ladies Day Proclamation

6:07

Mayor Gorton presented a proclamation declaring November 3, 2022, as Lexington Fire Ladies Day in honor of the Lexington Fire Ladies' achievement as 2022 World Champions in the Female Fire Dept. Relay Team category.

The proclamation recognized the exceptional performance of the Lexington Fire Ladies team, who competed against fire departments from around the world to earn the championship title. Chief Jason Wells and Firefighter Sarah McGill were present to accept the proclamation on behalf of the team.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton highlighted the significance of this achievement, noting that it brings recognition not only to the fire department but to the entire city of Lexington. The Female Fire Dept. Relay Team competition tests firefighters' skills, teamwork, and physical capabilities in a challenging relay format that simulates real-world emergency response scenarios.

Chief Wells expressed gratitude for the city's support of the fire department's competitive teams and emphasized how participation in these competitions helps maintain high standards of fitness and readiness among department personnel. Firefighter McGill, representing the championship team, thanked the community for their encouragement throughout the competition season.

The proclamation serves as an informational item celebrating the team's accomplishment and formally recognizing their contribution to the city's reputation in the firefighting community. No action was required from the council, as this was a ceremonial presentation honoring the Fire Ladies' world championship victory.

Second Reading of Ordinances

6:29

The council conducted second readings for several ordinances during this portion of the meeting. Council members Ellinger and Kay were the primary speakers addressing these legislative items.

The ordinances that received second reading included amendments to zoning regulations and budget-related measures. These items had previously been introduced and discussed during their first readings at earlier meetings, allowing time for public review and council consideration.

During the discussion, the key speakers presented the ordinances for final consideration. The second reading process represents the final step before ordinances become effective, providing council members with a final opportunity to debate any remaining concerns or clarifications needed before voting.

All ordinances presented for second reading were approved by the council. The approval of these measures means they will now take effect according to their specified implementation timelines.

The zoning amendments and budget ordinances that passed will impact municipal operations and land use regulations within the jurisdiction. These legislative actions represent routine but important governance functions that require the formal two-reading process to ensure proper public notice and deliberation.

The efficient handling of multiple ordinances during this agenda item demonstrates the council's preparation and the routine nature of these particular legislative matters, with no significant opposition or extended debate recorded during the proceedings.

Second Reading of Resolutions

6:29

The council conducted second readings for several resolutions during this portion of the meeting. Council members Baxter and Plomin were the key speakers addressing these items.

The resolutions under consideration included various agreements for services and grant acceptances that had previously received their first reading. These items were presented for final approval following the standard two-reading process required for municipal resolutions.

The resolutions were approved following the second reading process. No specific details about individual resolutions, debate content, or concerns raised were captured in the available meeting data.

All resolutions that received their second reading during this agenda item were ultimately approved by the council.

Capital Expenditure Policy Amendment

6:29

Ms. Lamb presented a motion to amend the Capital Expenditure Policy during the November 3, 2022 meeting. The proposed amendment was designed to align the organization's capital expenditure procedures with guidelines established by the NDF (North Dakota Foundation).

Ms. Lamb led the discussion on the policy changes, with Ms. LeGris also participating as a key speaker in the deliberations. The amendment focused on bringing the current capital expenditure framework into compliance with NDF standards and requirements.

The motion to amend the Capital Expenditure Policy was approved by the governing body. No specific concerns or opposition were noted in the available meeting data, suggesting the amendment received support from the participants.

This policy amendment represents an effort to standardize capital expenditure procedures according to established NDF guidelines, ensuring consistency and compliance with foundation requirements for capital spending decisions.

Housing Shortage Discussion

6:29

Mr. Worley brought forward a proposal to address the local housing shortage through a program that would involve the acquisition of rental properties. The discussion focused on developing a structured approach to tackle housing availability issues in the community.

During the discussion, Mr. Worley and Mr. McCurn were the primary speakers addressing this housing initiative. The proposal centered on creating a program that would allow for the strategic acquisition of rental properties as a means to increase housing stock and address shortage concerns.

The council members discussed the merits of implementing such a program, though specific details about funding mechanisms, property selection criteria, or implementation timelines were not elaborated upon during this initial discussion phase.

Following the presentation and brief discussion of the housing shortage proposal, the council voted to approve moving the item forward to committee for further review and development. This outcome allows for more detailed examination of the proposal's feasibility, potential costs, and implementation strategies before bringing it back to the full council for final consideration.

The approval to place the housing shortage discussion in committee represents the first step in what could become a significant municipal initiative to address housing availability challenges in the community.