Urban County Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on August 19, 2008, at 3:03 PM in the Council Chambers with Mayor Newberry presiding. The meeting featured two informational presentations: a Fire Hydrant Presentation and a Bluegrass State Games Presentation. During the session, the Council conducted 9 motions and votes while hearing 1 public comment. The meeting focused primarily on receiving information through the scheduled presentations rather than taking legislative action on ordinances or resolutions.

Attendance

The Council meeting on August 25, 2008 had strong attendance with thirteen members present and one absence.

Present: • Mayor Newberry • Myers • DeCamp • Lane • Stevens • Gorton • Beard • James • Stinnett • Blevins • Crosbie • Blues • Ellinger

Absent: • Peggy Henson

Late: • None

With thirteen of fourteen members in attendance, the Council had a full quorum to conduct business. No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted nine votes during the August 25, 2008 meeting, all of which passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Procedural Approvals • Docket Approval 0:30 - Motion by Myers, seconded by DeCamp, passed by voice vote • Meeting Summary Approval 1:00 - Motion by Lane to approve the August 12, 2008 summary, seconded by Myers, passed by voice vote • New Business Items 1:30 - Motion by Stevens, seconded by Gorton, passed by voice vote

Resolutions and Agreements • Roots & Heritage Festival Agreement 2:00 - Motion by James, seconded by Gorton, to authorize the Mayor to execute an agreement with the Roots & Heritage Festival, Inc., passed by voice vote

Committee Referrals • Surplus Property Review 2:30 - Motion by James, seconded by Stinnett, to place surplus property issues into the Budget & Finance Committee, passed by voice vote • UDAG Utilization Fees 3:00 - Motion by James, seconded by Gorton, to refer UDAG utilization fees to the Budget & Finance Committee for review, passed by voice vote

Thursday Docket Items • R.J. Corman Wire Crossing 3:30 - Motion by Blevins, seconded by Lane, to place a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an application for wire or cable line crossing with R.J. Corman Company on Thursday's docket, passed by voice vote • Old Vine Street Speed Limit 4:00 - Motion by DeCamp, seconded by Gorton, to place the Traffic Engineering Division's recommendation to reduce Old Vine Street speed limit to 25 MPH on Thursday's docket, passed by voice vote • Clean Air Ordinance Committee Assignment 4:30 - Motion by Stevens, seconded by Beard, to place the Clean Air (Smoking) Ordinance into Services Committee as an agenda item for the September 9, 2008 meeting, passed by voice vote

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one citizen addressed the Council with concerns about racial equity in the community.

Mr. Cobb spoke about opportunities for African Americans in Lexington 5:00. He expressed concerns about what he characterized as a lack of opportunities for African Americans in the city and criticized the city's leadership for not adequately addressing these issues.

The public comment period provided a forum for this community member to bring forward issues of racial equity and opportunity access to the Council's attention.

Appointments

The Council made one appointment during the August 25, 2008 meeting.

• Mike Webb was appointed as Acting Commissioner of Public Works

This appointment fills a key administrative position within the city's public works department, which oversees infrastructure maintenance, utilities, and municipal services.

Fire Hydrant Presentation

6:00 Major Doug Ingram from the Division of Fire and Emergency Services delivered an informational presentation to the Council regarding the current status and maintenance of fire hydrants throughout the city.

The presentation covered three categories of fire hydrants within the municipal system: public hydrants owned and maintained by the city, private hydrants on commercial and industrial properties, and privately owned hydrants that serve specific developments or facilities.

Major Ingram provided an overview of the city's hydrant maintenance program, addressing the inspection schedules, repair protocols, and operational standards that ensure the fire suppression infrastructure remains functional and accessible for emergency response operations.

The presentation was informational in nature, with Major Ingram serving as the primary speaker throughout the discussion. The briefing aimed to update Council members on the Division of Fire and Emergency Services' ongoing efforts to maintain adequate fire protection capabilities across the community through proper hydrant management and maintenance procedures.

This presentation provided Council members with current information about a critical component of the city's emergency response infrastructure, though no specific action items or decisions were required from the Council following the briefing.

Bluegrass State Games Presentation

7:00 Commissioner Cole and Sam Dunn delivered a presentation to the Council regarding the Bluegrass State Games, focusing on the event's recent success and economic benefits to the community.

The presenters highlighted significant growth in participation levels for the games, demonstrating increased community engagement and athletic involvement across various sports categories. They emphasized how the expanded participation has contributed to the overall success of the annual event.

A key component of the presentation centered on the economic impact the Bluegrass State Games has generated for the local area. Commissioner Cole and Dunn provided data showing how the games attract visitors, athletes, and families from across the region, resulting in increased spending at local hotels, restaurants, and businesses during the event period.

The presentation also showcased new partnerships that have been established to support the games. These collaborative relationships have helped expand the scope and quality of the athletic competitions while providing additional resources and sponsorship opportunities.

Commissioner Cole and Dunn outlined how these partnerships have enhanced the overall experience for participants and spectators alike, contributing to the games' growing reputation as a premier athletic event in the state.

The presentation served as an informational update to keep Council members informed about this significant community event and its positive contributions to the local economy and athletic community. No action was required from the Council, as this was purely an informational briefing on the games' continued success and expansion.