Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on November 15, 2022, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Urban County Government Center, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting focused primarily on informational items, featuring a presentation on a disparity study and providing opportunities for public input on agenda matters. The council heard 2 public comments during the designated public comment period and conducted 2 votes during the proceedings. Both agenda items were informational in nature, with the disparity study presentation serving as the main substantive item for council consideration and public discussion.

Attendance

All council members were present for the November 15, 2022 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Gorton • Vice Mayor Kay • Council Member Bledsoe • Council Member Lamb • Council Member Plomin • Council Member Baxter • Council Member Sheehan • Council Member McCurn • Council Member Ellinger • Council Member Brown • Council Member Reynolds • Council Member Moloney • Council Member LeGris • Council Member Kloiber • Council Member Worley

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with all 15 council members participating from the start of the session.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two resolutions during the November 15, 2022 meeting.

Police Lodge Agreement Resolution 10:00 Council Member Bledsoe moved to approve a resolution accepting two separate memorandums of agreement with the Bluegrass Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4. The motion passed by voice vote with 14 members voting in favor and 1 opposed.

Those voting in favor were: Mayor Gorton, Vice Mayor Kay, Council Member Bledsoe, Council Member Lamb, Council Member Plomin, Council Member Baxter, Council Member Sheehan, Council Member McCurn, Council Member Ellinger, Council Member Brown, Council Member Reynolds, Council Member Moloney, Council Member LeGris, and Council Member Kloiber.

Council Member Worley cast the sole dissenting vote.

Goal 4 Work Group Report Resolution 1:30:00 Vice Mayor Kay moved to approve a resolution endorsing the report of the Goal 4 Work Group, with Council Member Bledsoe providing the second. This resolution was decided by roll call vote and passed with 10 members in favor and 1 opposed.

The members voting to approve the resolution were: Mayor Gorton, Vice Mayor Kay, Council Member Bledsoe, Council Member Lamb, Council Member Plomin, Council Member Baxter, Council Member Sheehan, Council Member McCurn, Council Member Ellinger, and Council Member Brown.

Council Member Worley again voted against the measure. Several council members who voted for the police agreement resolution were not recorded as voting on this second resolution.

Both resolutions passed despite opposition from Council Member Worley, who was the only member to vote against either measure.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed one significant financial amendment related to infrastructure planning. The council considered an amendment totaling $400,000 for an updated sewerability study targeting certain rural areas.

• Sewerability Study Amendment - $400,000: The amendment allocates funding for an updated study examining sewer infrastructure feasibility in specific rural areas within the jurisdiction. The study represents a substantial investment in evaluating potential expansion of municipal sewer services to underserved rural communities.

The financial action reflects the municipality's commitment to assessing infrastructure needs in outlying areas, though specific details regarding the study's scope, timeline, or the consulting firm that would conduct the work were not specified in the available materials. The $400,000 allocation suggests a comprehensive analysis that would likely include engineering assessments, environmental impact evaluations, and cost-benefit analyses for potential sewer system extensions.

No additional budget amendments, appropriations, or financial resolutions were identified in the meeting materials. The sewerability study amendment represents the sole financial action item requiring council consideration during this session.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and resolution numbers were not available in the provided meeting materials.*

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the meeting during the public comment period, both focusing on concerns regarding the Goal 4 Work Group Report.

Margaret Graves spoke first, expressing concerns about the Goal 4 Work Group Report 1:00:00. Graves raised issues about the lack of public participation in the work group's process and specifically highlighted the absence of representation from the rural land management board. She emphasized that this lack of inclusive participation was problematic for the report's development and outcomes.

Will Adams, representing the Bluegrass Land Conservancy, followed with additional concerns about the same report 1:05:00. Adams opposed the report's methodology for defining developable areas, arguing that the proposed approach could potentially harm important conservation values in the region. As a representative of a land conservation organization, Adams brought a specific perspective focused on protecting natural resources and conservation priorities.

Both speakers' comments centered on the Goal 4 Work Group Report, indicating significant community interest and concern about this particular agenda item. The comments highlighted two key areas of opposition: procedural concerns about public engagement and representation, and substantive concerns about the report's potential impact on conservation efforts.

Contested Items

The November 15, 2022 meeting featured one primary contested item that drew community opposition.

Goal 4 Work Group Report

Several community members voiced opposition to the Goal 4 Work Group Report during the meeting. The disagreement centered on two main concerns: inadequate public participation in the work group process and potential negative impacts on rural land use.

Community members who spoke against the report argued that the public had not been sufficiently involved in developing the recommendations. They also raised concerns about how the proposed changes might affect rural land designation and use within the jurisdiction.

The nature of the opposition was characterized as community-based, with multiple residents participating in the discussion to express their objections to the work group's findings and recommendations.

*Note: Specific timestamp information was not available in the provided meeting data for this contested item.*

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

1:00:00

During the public comment period for agenda items, several community members addressed the commission regarding the Goal 4 Work Group Report. The comments focused on concerns about the process and potential impacts on rural areas.

Key Speakers: • Margaret Graves • Will Adams

The speakers expressed concerns about the Goal 4 Work Group Report process and raised questions about how the proposed changes might affect rural communities. The specific nature of their concerns centered on the work group's approach and the potential consequences for rural areas under consideration.

This was an informational session where public input was received but no formal action was taken by the commission. The comments provided community perspective on the Goal 4 Work Group Report that was being considered as part of the meeting's agenda.

Disparity Study Presentation

2:00:00

BBC Research & Consulting presented the findings of the 2022 Disparity Study during this agenda item, with Iris McClish serving as the key speaker for the presentation.

The study examined disparities in city contracting practices, specifically focusing on opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) in municipal contracts. The presentation highlighted findings that revealed gaps between the availability of minority and women-owned businesses and their actual participation in city contracting opportunities.

McClish presented the research methodology and key findings from the comprehensive analysis, which assessed the city's contracting practices across various business categories and demographic groups. The study's results provided data-driven insights into potential barriers that minority and women-owned businesses face when seeking to participate in city contracts.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing city officials and the public with detailed findings about contracting disparities. The study's results are typically used to inform policy decisions regarding procurement practices and potential programs to address identified disparities in business participation.

This agenda item served as a formal presentation of the research findings without requiring immediate action from the governing body. The disparity study represents part of the city's ongoing efforts to evaluate and potentially improve equity in its contracting processes.