Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on May 30, 2023, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Urban County Government Center, with Vice Mayor Wu presiding over the session. The council addressed five agenda items during the meeting, including public comment opportunities, approval of meeting summaries, and both new and continuing business matters.

The council took eight votes throughout the session and heard one public comment during the designated public comment period for issues on the agenda. Among the items addressed were routine administrative matters such as the approval of meeting summaries and the consideration of new business items, all of which received council approval. The meeting also included continuing business and presentations, which were approved by the council.

Additionally, the council recognized Building Safety Month through a proclamation, serving as an informational item to acknowledge the importance of building safety standards in the community. The session demonstrated typical council operations with a mix of administrative approvals, public engagement, and community recognition activities.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on May 30, 2023:

Present: • Wu • Ellinger • Baxter • Sevigny • LeGris • Reynolds • Gray • Sheehan • Worley • Lynch • Fogle • James Brown • Fred Brown • Conrad • Ford • Sanders • Lanter • Neal • Albright • Martin • Allen-Bryant • Horton-Holt • Scott

Absent: None

Late: None

All 23 members were present for the meeting, with no absences or late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included eight motions, all of which passed unanimously.

Administrative Approvals

Ellinger motioned to approve the May 23, 2023 work session summary, seconded by Baxter. The motion passed unanimously. 2:00

Sheehan motioned to approve new business, seconded by Gray. The motion passed unanimously. 10:00

Sevigny motioned to amend the May 23, 2023 work session table of motions. The motion passed unanimously without a recorded second. 20:00

Budget-Related Votes

The council approved council capital projects unanimously, though no motion maker or second was recorded. 25:00

James Brown motioned to ratify the Mayor's proposed budget for FY24 as amended. The motion passed unanimously without a recorded second. 45:00

James Brown motioned to place the FY24 budget on the docket for first reading on June 13, 2023. The motion passed unanimously without a recorded second. 50:00

James Brown motioned to place a budget amendment on the docket for June 1, 2023. The motion passed unanimously without a recorded second. 55:00

Meeting Schedule Change

Wu motioned to cancel the budget Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting scheduled for June 1, 2023. The motion passed unanimously without a recorded second. 1:10:00

All votes were recorded as unanimous, though specific vote counts and individual member positions were not documented in the available records.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed seven financial items totaling $692,431.80 in expenditures and contract authorizations.

Contract Amendments and Modifications • The council approved an increasing change order to the Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant for $111,281.80 with Colt Engineering, Inc. (Resolution L0532-23)

Traffic Safety Infrastructure Three separate authorizations were approved for speed table installations across residential areas: • Installation of three speed tables on Beth Lane for $13,500 (Resolution L0554-23) • Installation of three speed tables on Bob o Link Drive for $13,500 (Resolution L0556-23) • Installation of four speed tables on Springridge Drive for $18,000 (Resolution L0557-23)

Professional Services Contracts The council authorized three new professional services agreements: • A $118,450 agreement with the United States Geological Survey for stream flow and rain gauges (Resolution L0567-23) • A $317,700 Professional Services Agreement with Brandstetter Carroll, Inc. (Resolution L0570-23) • A $100,000 Professional Services Agreement with Western Skies LLC (Resolution L0571-23)

The largest single expenditure was the Brandstetter Carroll, Inc. contract at $317,700, while the traffic safety improvements represented a combined investment of $45,000 across three residential streets. The USGS agreement for environmental monitoring equipment accounted for $118,450 of the total approved spending.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the council regarding budget matters.

Dottie Bean spoke at 5:00 to express her concerns about the Mayor's budget recommendations. Bean stated her disappointment that many of the Mayor's budget proposals were approved by the council with what she characterized as insufficient scrutiny or examination. She specifically commended Councilmember Fogle and Councilmember Reynolds for their initiatives during the budget process, though the specific nature of these initiatives was not detailed in her remarks.

Bean's comments reflected broader community concerns about the thoroughness of the budget review process and the level of analysis applied to mayoral recommendations before council approval.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one primary point of contention regarding municipal funding priorities.

Senior Citizen Center Funding

Councilmember Fogle raised objections to proposed funding for a new senior citizen center, characterizing the initiative as rushed and questioning its prioritization over other unaddressed community needs. The disagreement centered on the allocation of municipal resources and the decision-making process for determining funding priorities.

Fogle's concerns focused on what they perceived as an accelerated timeline for the senior center project while other community infrastructure and service needs remained unfunded or inadequately addressed. The councilmember's opposition represented a broader debate about resource allocation and community priorities within the municipal budget.

The nature of the opposition was characterized as community-focused, with Fogle positioning their concerns around ensuring equitable distribution of public funds across various community needs rather than concentrating resources on a single project.

The outcome of this contested item was not specified in the available meeting data, leaving the resolution of the funding disagreement unclear from the provided information.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

5:00

The meeting opened a public comment period for residents to address issues listed on the agenda.

Dottie Bean was the only member of the public to speak during this portion of the meeting. The specific topics she addressed or concerns she raised were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

This agenda item served an informational purpose, providing community members an opportunity to share their perspectives on matters scheduled for discussion during the meeting. No formal action was taken as a result of the public comments received.

Approval of Summary

2:00

The board considered approval of the summary from the May 23, 2023 work session. The discussion involved key speakers Ellinger and Baxter, who addressed the accuracy and completeness of the meeting summary.

The summary was presented for formal approval as part of the standard meeting procedures. The May 23, 2023 work session summary documented the proceedings and decisions from that previous meeting.

Following discussion between Ellinger and Baxter, the board voted to approve the summary of the May 23, 2023 work session. The approval ensures the official record of the previous meeting is formally adopted and entered into the public record.

New Business

10:00

The meeting addressed new business items during this portion of the proceedings. The discussion was led by key speakers Sheehan and Gray, who presented the matters for consideration.

The new business items were brought forward as a resolution for the board's approval. While the specific details of the individual business items were not elaborated in the available materials, the discussion proceeded in a straightforward manner without significant debate or opposition from board members.

No concerns or objections were raised during the presentation or discussion of the new business items. The proceedings moved efficiently through this agenda item, suggesting the matters were either routine in nature or had been previously reviewed and prepared for consideration.

Following the presentation and brief discussion, the new business items were put to a vote. The resolution was approved without dissent, indicating unanimous support from all participating board members for the proposed new business matters.

The approval of these new business items allows the relevant parties to proceed with implementation of whatever initiatives, policies, or actions were contained within the resolution.

Continuing Business/Presentations

25:00

During the continuing business portion of the meeting, the council addressed capital projects that required discussion and approval. The agenda item focused on ongoing municipal infrastructure and development initiatives.

The council reviewed various capital projects, though specific details about individual projects, their scope, or budget allocations were not provided in the available meeting materials. The discussion appeared to center on projects that had been previously introduced or were part of the municipality's ongoing capital improvement program.

Following the presentation and discussion of the capital projects, the council moved to approve the items under consideration. The outcome was positive, with the council voting to approve the capital projects as presented.

No specific speakers were identified for this portion of the meeting, and no particular concerns or objections were noted in the available documentation. The approval suggests the projects met the council's standards and aligned with municipal priorities and budget constraints.

This agenda item represents routine municipal business where elected officials review and authorize capital expenditures and infrastructure improvements that are essential for community development and maintenance of public services.

Proclamation: Building Safety Month

30:00

Mayor Gorton presented a proclamation declaring May 2023 as Building Safety Month in Lexington. This proclamation recognizes the importance of building safety codes, standards, and the professionals who ensure public safety through proper construction and maintenance practices.

The proclamation serves as an informational item to raise awareness about building safety within the community. Building Safety Month is typically observed nationally to highlight the critical role that building codes and safety measures play in protecting residents and property.

No discussion or debate occurred regarding this proclamation, as it was presented as an informational item. The proclamation was formally declared without requiring council action or voting.