Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on February 16, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting focused primarily on recognition items, with the council approving three agenda items that honored local achievements and contributions to the community. The council took three votes during the session, all resulting in approval of the recognition measures presented.

The meeting included recognition of the Henry Clay and Lafayette Dance Teams for their accomplishments, as well as recognition of Terry Allen for his contributions to the community. Additionally, the council approved an In Memoriam Recognition of Will Harbut, honoring his legacy and service. Three members of the public provided comments during the public comment period, contributing to the community dialogue during the session.

All three agenda items presented to the council were successfully approved, demonstrating unanimous support for recognizing these individuals and groups for their positive impact on the Lexington community.

Attendance

The following members were present at the February 16, 2023 meeting:

• Mayor Gorton
• Sevigny
• Worley
• Wu
• J. Brown
• Ellinger
• Elliott Baxter
• Fogle
• Gray
• LeGris
• Lynch
• Monarrez
• Reynolds

Absent: • Sheehan • F. Brown • Plomin

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 13 members were present and 3 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted three votes during the February 16, 2023 meeting, all of which passed unanimously with all 12 members present voting in favor.

Motion 0175-23 0:02 - Ms. Gray motioned to approve the Minutes of the January 31, 2023 Council Meeting, seconded by Mr. Sevigny. The motion passed unanimously with 12 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Sevigny, Worley, Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, and Reynolds.

Motions 0156-23 to 0160-23 1:30 - Mr. Ellinger motioned to approve ordinances expanding and extending Urban Services Districts, seconded by Ms. Elliott Baxter. The motion passed by roll call vote with 12 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Sevigny, Worley, Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, and Reynolds.

Motions 0131-23 to 0127-23 4:00 - Mr. Sevigny motioned to approve resolutions including bid acceptances and agreements, seconded by Ms. Fogle. The motion passed by roll call vote with 12 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Sevigny, Worley, Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, and Reynolds.

No council members voted against any of the motions, and there were no abstentions recorded for any of the three votes. The unanimous approval of all items demonstrates council consensus on the meeting's agenda items.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial contracts totaling approximately $2.85 million in expenditures.

The largest financial action involved Resolution 0131-23, approving a $2,690,200 contract with Herrick Co., Inc. for West Hickman WAS/RAS Improvements. This substantial infrastructure investment represents the majority of the financial commitments discussed during the meeting.

Resolution 0137-23 authorized a $49,000 contract with ECS Environmental Solutions for Scrubber Services and Carbon Replacement. This environmental services contract addresses ongoing operational maintenance requirements.

The final financial item, Resolution 0162-23, approved a $110,000 contract with Utility Planning Network for enQuesta software upgrade project management services. This technology investment focuses on system modernization and project management capabilities.

All three contracts represent operational and infrastructure investments, with the West Hickman improvements comprising the most significant capital expenditure at nearly $2.7 million. The combined financial commitments demonstrate ongoing investments in both physical infrastructure and technological systems.

Public Comment

Three community members addressed the meeting during the public comment period, focusing primarily on housing-related issues and contract obligations.

Lilly Miller Johnson 2:00:00 spoke about contract law and agreements, emphasizing the importance of following through on contractual commitments. Johnson specifically referenced a past agreement involving Mayor Gray, stressing the need for the city to honor its contractual obligations.

Rock Daniels 2:03:00 presented potential solutions for affordable housing challenges facing the community. Daniels outlined a multi-faceted approach that included tenant rights education programs and the development of regional public transportation systems as key components to address housing affordability issues.

Emily Jackson 2:09:00 voiced strong support for the Tenants Bill of Rights initiative. Jackson highlighted the particular importance of tenant protections for women's economic security, arguing that such legislation would provide crucial safeguards for vulnerable residents in the housing market.

The public comments reflected ongoing community concerns about housing affordability, tenant protections, and government accountability in fulfilling contractual commitments. All three speakers addressed different aspects of housing policy, suggesting these issues remain a priority for local residents.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions.

Reappointments: • Katina Jo May was reappointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers • Benjamin Adams was reappointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs • Terrie Nagy was reappointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs

New Appointments: • Larry Forester was appointed to the Exaction Appeals Committee • Mary Griffith was appointed to the Explorium of Lexington • Rosie Harless was appointed to the Senior Services Commission

The appointments cover a range of city functions, from public safety and veterans' services to senior citizen advocacy and educational programming. The Commission on Veterans' Affairs received two reappointments, indicating continuity in leadership for veteran-related services in the community.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one primary contested item that generated community opposition and discussion among council members.

Parking Rates Agreement

The proposed agreement to increase parking rates for Urban County Government employees faced significant pushback during the meeting. The disagreement centered on concerns about the broader economic impact of raising parking fees, particularly how these increases would affect local business owners and their employees who rely on downtown parking.

Community members and stakeholders expressed opposition to the parking rate increases, arguing that higher fees could create financial hardship for workers and potentially harm local businesses by making downtown areas less accessible and affordable. The nature of the opposition suggested concerns that the rate increases could have ripple effects beyond just government employees, potentially impacting the broader downtown business community.

The discussion highlighted tensions between the need for the Urban County Government to manage parking resources and generate revenue through rate adjustments, versus community concerns about affordability and economic impact on local businesses and workers. The opposition appeared to focus on the practical implications of the rate increases rather than the concept of parking fees themselves.

While the extracted data indicates this item generated community opposition and was discussed during the meeting, the specific outcome of the deliberations and any final action taken on the parking rates agreement is not detailed in the available information.

Recognition of Henry Clay and Lafayette Dance Teams

0:10

The council formally recognized the outstanding achievements of two local high school dance teams during agenda item 0197-23. Mayor Gorton presented proclamations honoring both the Henry Clay High School Dance Team and the Lafayette High School Dance Team for their exceptional performances and contributions to the community.

The recognition included the official declaration of February 16, 2023, as both "Henry Clay High School Dance Team Day" and "Lafayette High School Dance Team Day" in acknowledgment of their accomplishments. The proclamations highlighted the teams' dedication, hard work, and the positive representation they provide for their respective schools and the broader community.

Mayor Gorton served as the primary speaker for this presentation, delivering remarks that celebrated the students' achievements and the commitment they have shown to their craft. The recognition ceremony provided an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the talent and efforts of these young performers.

The agenda item was presented as a ceremonial recognition without requiring council debate or discussion. The proclamations were approved as part of the council's regular practice of honoring local student achievements and community accomplishments.

This recognition reflects the council's ongoing commitment to celebrating educational excellence and extracurricular achievements within the local school district, providing public acknowledgment for students who have distinguished themselves through their participation in competitive dance programs.

Recognition of Terry Allen

0:20

The city formally recognized Terry Allen for his significant contributions to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Freedom March through agenda item 0185-23. Mayor Gorton and J. Brown served as the key speakers for this recognition presentation.

During the proceedings, February 16, 2023, was officially declared as Terry Allen Day in honor of his dedicated service and involvement with the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Freedom March. The recognition highlighted Allen's ongoing commitment to preserving and promoting the legacy of Dr. King through community engagement and organizing efforts.

The presentation proceeded without debate or concerns raised by council members, reflecting unanimous support for honoring Allen's contributions to this important community event. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Freedom March serves as a significant annual observance in the city, and Allen's role in supporting and organizing this event was deemed worthy of formal municipal recognition.

The agenda item was approved, officially establishing Terry Allen Day and formally acknowledging his service to the community through his work with the Freedom March commemoration.

In Memoriam Recognition of Will Harbut

0:30

The council honored the memory of Will Harbut through agenda item 0186-23, presenting a proclamation celebrating his life and legacy. Harbut served as the groom for the legendary racehorse Man o' War, one of the most famous thoroughbreds in racing history.

Mayor Gorton and council member Fogle were the key speakers for this memorial presentation. The proclamation recognized Harbut's significant contributions to horse racing and his dedicated service caring for Man o' War, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.

The memorial presentation highlighted Harbut's role in the care and management of the celebrated thoroughbred, acknowledging his importance in the horse's success and legacy. Man o' War, known for his exceptional racing career in the early 1900s, required skilled and devoted care, which Harbut provided throughout his service.

The council approved the proclamation without debate, reflecting unanimous support for honoring Harbut's memory and his connection to this important piece of racing history. The recognition serves to preserve the memory of those who worked behind the scenes to support the achievements of legendary horses like Man o' War.

This memorial proclamation represents the council's commitment to acknowledging individuals who made significant contributions to the community's heritage, particularly in areas related to the region's rich horse racing tradition.