Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on April 25, 2023, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The council addressed six agenda items during the session, covering a range of municipal business including zoning matters, budget amendments, and ongoing city initiatives.

The council took action on five motions during the meeting, approving requested rezonings and docket items, budget amendments, and new business items. One public comment was heard regarding issues on the agenda, providing community input on matters under consideration. The meeting also included informational presentations as part of continuing business items.

Key accomplishments included the approval of zoning changes, budget modifications, and the advancement of new municipal business. The session concluded with presentations on ongoing city initiatives, ensuring council members remained informed about current projects and developments affecting Lexington-Fayette Urban County.

Attendance

All council members were present for the April 25, 2023 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Linda Gorton • Vice Mayor Wu • Councilmember Baxter • Councilmember James Brown • Councilmember Fred Brown • Councilmember Ellinger II • Councilmember Fogle • Councilmember Gray • Councilmember LeGris • Councilmember Lynch • Councilmember Reynolds • Councilmember Sevigny • Councilmember Sheehan • Councilmember Worley

Absent: None

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted five votes during the meeting, all of which passed by voice vote.

Approval of Minutes 3:00 Councilmember Ellinger motioned to approve the April 18, 2023, Council Work Session minutes, with a second from Councilmember Plomin. The motion passed by voice vote.

Budget Amendments 4:00 Councilmember Plomin made a motion to approve budget amendments, seconded by Councilmember Baxter. The motion passed by voice vote.

New Business Items 5:00 Councilmember Baxter motioned for approval of new business items, with Councilmember Sheehan providing the second. The motion passed by voice vote.

Neighborhood Development Funds 6:00 Councilmember LeGris moved to approve the Neighborhood Development Funds as amended, with a second from Councilmember Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote.

Council Capital Projects 7:00 Councilmember Reynolds made a motion to approve Council Capital Projects. This motion passed by voice vote without a recorded second.

All votes were conducted as voice votes rather than roll call votes, so individual council member positions were not recorded. No opposition or abstentions were noted for any of the motions during the meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council approved several significant financial agreements and contracts during the April 25, 2023 meeting, totaling over $4.5 million in commitments and grant funding.

Contracts and Amendments: • Resolution 0387-23: Amendment No. 1 to the contract with Kentucky Association for Environmental Education for $16,570.80 • Resolution 0400-23: Memorandum of Understanding with Kentucky State Police for Trunked Radio System (no dollar amount specified) • Resolution 0419-23: Agreement with Solar Energy Solutions, LLC for a solar photovoltaic system valued at $80,443.24 • Resolution 0420-23: Purchase of Service Agreement with Lexington Pride Center for $2,500 • Resolution 0425-23: Contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. for a Sewer Capability Study totaling $337,702.00 • Resolution 0427-23: Establishment of IAPro as a sole source vendor for case management software at $45,500

Grant Activities: The council addressed two major grant items: • Resolution 0430-23: Submission of the 2023 Consolidated Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $3,994,940 in federal funding • Resolution 0431-23: Acceptance of a $23,600 grant award from the Trust for Public Land

The largest single expenditure was the Sewer Capability Study contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. at $337,702.00, while the most significant funding opportunity was the nearly $4 million federal grant submission through HUD's Consolidated Plan process. The solar energy system contract represents the city's continued investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the board during the public comment period.

Rick Day spoke regarding the county's compensation system 9:00. Day criticized the current state of the county government's compensation system, describing it as "a mess." He expressed skepticism about the recommendations from the MAC study, questioning the proposed changes to employee compensation structure.

Day's comments focused specifically on concerns about how the county handles employee pay and benefits, though the specific details of his criticisms were not elaborated upon in the available summary. His remarks suggested dissatisfaction with both the current compensation practices and the proposed solutions being considered by the county.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:30

The council opened the floor for public comments on issues listed on the agenda. This portion of the meeting provided an opportunity for community members to address the council regarding specific items scheduled for discussion during the session.

No public speakers came forward during this comment period. The council waited for members of the public to approach the podium or indicate their desire to speak on any agenda items, but no one took advantage of this opportunity to provide input.

This agenda item served as an informational period, allowing the council to fulfill its commitment to public participation in the governmental process. The absence of public comment does not indicate a lack of community interest, as public participation can vary from meeting to meeting based on the specific issues being addressed and community awareness of the agenda items.

The council proceeded with the meeting after confirming that no members of the public wished to speak on any of the scheduled agenda items.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

1:00 The council reviewed and discussed requested rezonings and docket items during this agenda item. The discussion was led by key participants including Councilmember Sheehan and Councilmember LeGris.

The council considered various rezoning requests and docket items that required approval. While specific details of individual rezoning cases were not provided in the available materials, the discussion involved the standard review process for such matters.

Both Councilmember Sheehan and Councilmember LeGris participated in the deliberations regarding the rezoning requests and docket items under consideration.

Following the discussion and review of the requested rezonings and docket items, the council voted to approve the measures. The resolution passed, allowing the requested rezonings and docket items to move forward in the municipal process.

Approval of Summary

2:00

The council considered approval of the summary from their previous work session. Councilmember Ellinger participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The council voted to approve the summary of the previous work session without recorded debate or concerns raised during the meeting.

Outcome: Approved

Budget Amendments

3:00

The council considered budget amendments during the April 25, 2023 meeting. Councilmember Plomin served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

The council discussed the proposed budget amendments, though specific details about the nature and scope of the amendments were not provided in the available materials. The item was presented as a resolution requiring council approval.

Following discussion, the council approved the budget amendments. No concerns or objections were noted in the available records regarding this item.

The budget amendments were successfully adopted by the council during this meeting.

New Business

4:00 The council addressed new business items during this portion of the meeting. Councilmember Baxter served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

The council discussed and took action on new business matters, though the specific details of the items presented were not detailed in the available materials. Following discussion, the council approved the new business items that were brought forward.

The outcome was recorded as approved, indicating the council reached consensus on the matters presented during this segment of the meeting.

Continuing Business/Presentations

5:00

The council addressed continuing business and presentations during this portion of the meeting. Mayor Linda Gorton served as the key speaker for this agenda item.

The discussion included consideration of the SPOKE Award, though specific details about the award's purpose, recipients, or criteria were not provided in the available materials. This item was classified as informational in nature, indicating that no formal action or voting was required from the council members.

The agenda item encompassed ongoing municipal business that required council attention or acknowledgment. As a presentation-style item, it likely involved updates on existing city initiatives, programs, or recognition ceremonies that fall under the council's purview.

No specific concerns were raised during this discussion, and the item concluded without requiring any formal council action or decision-making. The informational nature of this agenda item suggests it served to keep council members informed about ongoing city business and ceremonial matters such as the SPOKE Award.