Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on January 19, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The council addressed seven agenda items during the session, focusing primarily on budget amendments, capital improvement projects, and service agreements. All agenda items presented to the council were approved, resulting in six recorded motions and votes throughout the meeting. No public comments were heard during this session, allowing the council to efficiently move through their business agenda covering various municipal projects and financial matters.

Attendance

The following members were present at the January 19, 2023 meeting:

Present: • Lynch • Plomin • Reynolds • Sevigny • Sheehan • Worley • Wu • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Elliott Baxter • Fogle • Gray • LeGris

Absent: • Monarrez

Late: • None

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

Votes and Decisions

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government meeting resulted in six unanimous votes, with all measures passing by a 14-0 margin.

Ordinance 1287-22 passed unanimously after a motion by Ellinger and second by Elliott Baxter. This ordinance amended certain budgets to reflect current fund requirements totaling $76,279. All 14 council members voted in favor: Lynch, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, and LeGris.

Ordinance 1288-22 also passed 14-0 following Ellinger's motion and Elliott Baxter's second. This measure amended budgets to provide funds for grant matching and establish grant budgets. The same 14 council members voted in favor.

Resolution 1294-22 received unanimous approval after Worley's motion and Ellinger's second. This resolution accepted the bid from D. C. Elevator, Inc. in the amount of $2,170,500 for Government Center Elevator Replacement. All 14 members voted yes.

Resolution 0069-23 passed unanimously with Worley making the motion and J. Brown providing the second. This resolution accepted W. R. Cole & Associates, Inc.'s bid of $78,400 for Dunbar Community Center Gymnasium Window Replacements. The vote was 14-0 in favor.

Resolution 0008-23 achieved unanimous passage following Plomin's motion and LeGris's second. This resolution authorized the Mayor to execute a Purchase of Service Agreement with Lake Cumberland CDL Training School, Inc. All 14 council members supported the measure.

Resolution 0034-23 concluded the voting with another 14-0 result after Gray's motion and Ellinger's second. This resolution rescinded Resolution No. 656-2022 and authorized a grant application for the Joyland Area Stormwater Improvements Project- Phase 2. All council members voted in favor.

No transcript timestamps were available for these votes. All votes were conducted as roll call votes with no abstentions recorded for any measure.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial contracts requiring council approval.

Government Center Elevator Replacement The council considered Resolution 1294-22 for a major elevator replacement project at the Government Center. The contract with D. C. Elevator, Inc. totals $2,170,500, representing the largest financial commitment discussed during the meeting.

Dunbar Community Center Improvements Resolution 0069-23 authorizes a contract with W. R. Cole & Associates, Inc. for $78,400 to replace gymnasium windows at the Dunbar Community Center. This project addresses facility maintenance needs at the community recreation facility.

CDL Training Services Agreement The council reviewed Resolution 0008-23, establishing a purchase of service agreement with Lake Cumberland CDL Training School, Inc. The contract provides Commercial Driver's License training services at a rate of $3,800 per employee, allowing the city to train municipal workers who require CDL certification for their positions.

These three resolutions collectively represent significant investments in infrastructure improvements, community facilities, and employee development programs. The elevator replacement represents the most substantial single expenditure, while the CDL training agreement establishes an ongoing per-employee cost structure for workforce development needs.

Appointments

The meeting addressed numerous appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions.

New Appointments: • Dan Wu was appointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board and Lexington Center Corporation • Robert James was appointed to the Agricultural Extension Board • Dave Sevigny was appointed to the Airport Board • Brenda Monarrez was appointed to the Animal Care and Control Advisory Committee, City Employees' Pension Fund Board, and Commission on Veterans' Affairs • Robin Fleischer and Kristin Klingshirn were appointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • John Marquette was appointed to the Board of Architectural Review • Tayna Fogle was appointed to the City Employees' Pension Fund Board and Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center • Margaret Verble was appointed to the Civil Service Commission • Denise Gray and Liz Sheehan were appointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities • Melanie Tyner-Wilson was appointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities • Zachary Farmer and David Sevigny were appointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs • Danielle Sanders was appointed to the Community Action Council and Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition • Whitney Baxter and Preston Worley were appointed to the Corridors Commission • James Brown was appointed to the Corridors Commission and Downtown Lexington Management District • Jessica Cobb and Doug Winkler were appointed to the Emergency Medical Advisory Board • D'lorah Hughes was appointed to the Ethics Commission • Nancy Albright, Kevin Atkins, Christ Ford, Erin Hensley, and Kathy Plomin were appointed to the Exactions Appeals Committee • Gary Barksdale and JoJuana Leavell-Greene were appointed to the Human Rights Commission • Shayla Lynch was appointed to the Masterson Station Park Advisory Board

Reappointments: • James Brown was reappointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board • Patrick Robinson was reappointed to the Agricultural Extension Board • Mark Onishi was reappointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • Jennifer Reynolds was reappointed to the Board of Health • Percy Thomas was reappointed to the Charles Young Center Advisory Board • Rachel Baker and Kenzie Gleason were reappointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities • Liz Sheehan was reappointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs • Kimberly Baird and Daniel Murphy were reappointed to the Community Action Council • Kathy Plomin was reappointed to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition • Jesse Robbins was reappointed to the Environmental Hearing Commission • Whitney Baxter, Sally Hamilton, and Stacey Maynard were reappointed to the Internal Audit Board • Fred Brown was reappointed to the Lexington Center Corporation

Resignations: • Gwendolyn Collins resigned from the Greenspace Trust • Trevion McFarland resigned from the Human Rights Commission

Minutes of the December 1, 2022 Council Meeting

The Council considered agenda item 0009-23, an ordinance for the approval of the minutes from the December 1, 2022 Council Meeting. This routine administrative matter involved reviewing and formally adopting the official record of proceedings from the previous meeting.

The discussion included participation from Council members Reynolds and Wu, who served as key speakers on this agenda item. The item was presented as a standard procedural vote to approve the accuracy and completeness of the meeting minutes as prepared by staff.

The Council ultimately approved the minutes from the December 1, 2022 meeting, completing the formal adoption of the official record for that session. This approval ensures the minutes become part of the permanent public record and can be referenced for future proceedings and public transparency purposes.

No transcript timestamps are available for this agenda item discussion.

Amending Budgets for Council Capital Projects

The council considered Ordinance 1287-22, which proposed amending certain budgets to reflect current requirements for funds totaling $76,279 for council capital projects.

The ordinance was presented to adjust budget allocations for ongoing capital projects under the council's purview. The amendment addressed funding needs that had developed since the original budget adoption, requiring a reallocation of $76,279 to ensure adequate resources for project completion.

Key speakers during the discussion included Ellinger and Elliott Baxter, who provided details on the budget modifications and the necessity for the funding adjustments. The speakers explained the specific requirements that necessitated the budget amendment and how the funds would be utilized for the capital projects.

The council ultimately approved the ordinance, authorizing the budget amendments as proposed. The approval ensures that the affected capital projects will have the necessary funding to proceed according to their current requirements and timelines.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Amending Budgets for Grant Match

The council considered Ordinance 1288-22, which would amend certain city budgets to provide funds for grant matching requirements and establish new grant budgets. This ordinance addresses the city's need to allocate local funds that can be used to match federal and state grant opportunities.

Key speakers during the discussion included Ellinger and Elliott Baxter, who presented details about the budget amendments and their necessity for securing grant funding. The ordinance establishes a framework for the city to systematically budget for grant match requirements, which are often necessary conditions for receiving external funding from state and federal sources.

The budget amendments covered in this ordinance would create dedicated funding streams that can be quickly accessed when grant opportunities arise, rather than requiring separate budget amendments for each individual grant application. This approach streamlines the city's ability to pursue and secure grant funding by ensuring match funds are readily available.

The council approved Ordinance 1288-22, enabling the city to move forward with the budget amendments for grant matching purposes. This approval provides the administrative framework needed to pursue various grant opportunities that require local matching funds, potentially bringing additional resources to the city for various projects and programs.

The passage of this ordinance represents a proactive approach to grant funding, positioning the city to be more competitive in grant applications by having the required matching funds already budgeted and available when opportunities arise.

Dunbar Community Center Gymnasium Window Replacements

The council considered Resolution 0069-23 to accept a bid for window replacements at the Dunbar Community Center gymnasium. The resolution involved accepting a contractor's proposal to replace existing gymnasium windows at the community facility.

Council members Worley and J. Brown participated in the discussion of this agenda item. The resolution focused on approving the selected bid for the window replacement project, which would improve the facility's infrastructure and energy efficiency.

The council approved Resolution 0069-23, authorizing the acceptance of the bid for the Dunbar Community Center gymnasium window replacements. This approval allows the city to move forward with the contracted work to upgrade the community center's windows.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps, bid amounts, contractor details, and detailed discussion points were not available in the provided meeting data.*

Purchase of Service Agreement for CDL Training Services

The board considered Resolution 0008-23, which would authorize a Purchase of Service Agreement for CDL Training Services. This resolution was presented to enable the organization to contract for commercial driver's license training services.

Key speakers during the discussion included Plomin and LeGris, who addressed the board regarding the proposed agreement. The specific details of their presentations, including the scope of services, contract terms, financial implications, and service provider information, were not captured in the available meeting documentation.

The resolution was ultimately approved by the board, allowing the organization to move forward with establishing the CDL training service agreement. This approval enables the contracting of professional services to provide commercial driver's license training, which appears to be a necessary service for the organization's operations.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item, and detailed discussion points were not captured in the source materials.*

Grant Application for Joyland Area Stormwater Improvements Project

The council considered Resolution 0034-23, which authorized a grant application for the Joyland Area Stormwater Improvements Project - Phase 2. This resolution would allow the city to pursue funding for continued stormwater infrastructure improvements in the Joyland area.

Key speakers during the discussion included Gray and Ellinger, who presented information about the project and grant application process. The item was presented as part of the city's ongoing efforts to address stormwater management issues in the Joyland neighborhood.

The resolution was approved by the council, authorizing staff to move forward with submitting the grant application for Phase 2 of the stormwater improvements project. This approval represents the city's commitment to securing external funding for infrastructure improvements that will benefit residents in the Joyland area.

The project appears to be part of a multi-phase approach to addressing stormwater concerns, with this resolution specifically focusing on the second phase of improvements. By pursuing grant funding, the city aims to reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers while still advancing necessary infrastructure upgrades.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*