Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on June 29, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed two primary agenda items: an informational presentation commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Indoor Smoking Ordinance and consideration of the FY24 Budget for the Downtown Lexington Management District. Council members took two votes during the session and heard from two members of the public during the comment period. The meeting resulted in the approval of the Downtown Lexington Management District's FY24 budget, while the smoking ordinance anniversary item served as an informational presentation to mark the milestone.

Attendance

The following members were present at the June 29, 2023 meeting:

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

Absent: • F. Brown

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 15 members were present with 1 member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Resolution 0638-23 6:18 - Vice Mayor Wu moved to ratify and approve the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget of the Downtown Lexington Management District, with Ms. Sheehan providing the second. The resolution passed by roll call vote with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, and Monarrez.

Ordinance 0550-23 6:17 - Ms. Plomin moved to amend sections of Chapter 5, Article VII of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to the Relocation Assistance Program for Tenants, with Ms. Fogle seconding the motion. The ordinance also passed unanimously by roll call vote with 14 ayes and 0 nays. The same 14 council members voted in favor: Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, and Monarrez.

Both votes demonstrated complete council consensus, with no opposition or abstentions recorded on either measure.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial actions totaling over $1 million in environmental compliance and infrastructure improvements.

Stormwater Quality Incentive Grant Project - Resolution 0532-23 The council approved a grant project valued at $289,956.80 to be awarded to Colt Engineering, Inc. d/b/a Thoroughbred Engineering. This grant funding supports stormwater quality improvement initiatives as part of the city's environmental infrastructure enhancement efforts.

Environmental Compliance Services Contract - Resolution 0555-23 A substantial contract worth $734,015 was approved for Tetra Tech, Inc. to provide Annual Program Management Services. This contract specifically covers Consent Decree implementation and MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) Permit Compliance activities, representing the city's ongoing commitment to meeting federal and state environmental regulatory requirements.

The combined financial commitment of $1,023,971.80 demonstrates the municipality's significant investment in stormwater management and environmental compliance programs. Both actions reflect the city's efforts to address water quality concerns and maintain compliance with environmental regulations through professional engineering and program management services.

Public Comment

Two community members addressed the council during the public comment period, raising concerns about housing and employee compensation issues.

Rick Day spoke first 2:00, criticizing disparities in employee compensation within the Urban County Government. Day highlighted a significant $29,000 pay difference between employees performing similar roles, raising questions about equity in the government's compensation structure.

Laverne addressed the council 3:00 regarding housing for the unhoused population. She shared a personal and urgent plea about her daughter's homelessness, emphasizing the critical need for immediate housing solutions. Laverne stressed the urgency of the situation, expressing concern that without prompt action, her daughter could die on the streets. Her testimony highlighted the human impact of the housing crisis and the need for swift intervention to protect vulnerable community members.

Both speakers brought forward pressing local issues - one focusing on internal government operations and fair compensation practices, and the other addressing the ongoing homelessness crisis affecting families in the community. Their comments reflected broader concerns about equity, both in terms of government employment practices and access to basic housing needs for the most vulnerable residents.

Appointments

The meeting included two appointments to local boards of directors.

Anita Dawson was appointed to the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers Board of Directors.

Leonard Harrison was appointed to the CASA of Lexington Board of Directors.

Both appointments were approved during the June 29, 2023 meeting.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one significant contested item that drew substantial community opposition.

Indoor Smoking Ordinance

The proposed Indoor Smoking Ordinance encountered considerable resistance from members of the public during the meeting. Citizens who spoke during public comment periods raised concerns about the potential economic impact the ordinance would have on local businesses, particularly restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues that currently allow smoking indoors.

Opposition speakers also framed their objections around personal rights issues, arguing that the ordinance represented government overreach into individual choice and private business operations. Several community members expressed worry that businesses might lose customers or face financial hardship if required to prohibit indoor smoking.

The nature of the opposition appeared to be primarily from community members rather than elected officials, suggesting the governing body was generally supportive of the measure while facing pushback from constituents. The ordinance addressed public health concerns related to secondhand smoke exposure in indoor public spaces and workplaces.

*Note: Specific details about speakers, vote counts, amendments, or the final outcome of this ordinance are not available in the provided meeting data. Timestamp information for locating relevant discussion in the meeting video was not included in the source materials.*

Indoor Smoking Ordinance 20th Anniversary

0:30

Mayor Gorton and Dr. Ellen Hann presented a commemorative overview of the Indoor Smoking Ordinance on its 20th anniversary during agenda item 0615-23. The presentation highlighted the significant public health impact the ordinance has had since its implementation two decades ago.

The speakers reflected on the challenges encountered during the ordinance's initial passage, acknowledging the controversy and resistance that accompanied the groundbreaking legislation when it was first introduced. Despite these early obstacles, the ordinance has proven to be a landmark achievement in public health policy.

Dr. Hann and Mayor Gorton emphasized the positive health outcomes that have resulted from the smoking ban in indoor public spaces over the past 20 years. The presentation served as both a celebration of this public health milestone and a recognition of the perseverance required to implement such transformative legislation.

This was an informational presentation with no action items or decisions required from the council. The agenda item provided an opportunity for city leadership to acknowledge the long-term success of the Indoor Smoking Ordinance and its continuing contribution to community health and wellness.

FY24 Budget Downtown Lexington Management District

6:17

The council held a public hearing for agenda item 0691-23 regarding the FY24 Budget for the Downtown Lexington Management District. Mayor Gorton presided over the hearing, which was opened to receive public input on the proposed budget.

No members of the public came forward to provide comments during the hearing. The absence of public testimony indicated no apparent community concerns or objections to the proposed budget for the downtown management district.

Following the completion of the public hearing process, the FY24 Budget for the Downtown Lexington Management District was approved by the council. The streamlined nature of this agenda item, with no public discussion or debate, suggests the budget proposal was considered routine and uncontroversial.

The Downtown Lexington Management District budget covers operations and services for the downtown area, though specific budget amounts and line items were not detailed in the available meeting materials. The approval allows the district to proceed with its planned activities and services for the upcoming fiscal year.