Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on August 22, 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 a comprehensive agenda of 10 items, conducting regular municipal business including zoning matters, budget amendments, and various administrative approvals.

During the session, council members took 22 votes on motions covering requested rezonings and docket approvals, budget amendments, new business items, and the mayor's report. The meeting included both continuing business and presentations as part of the informational portions of the agenda. Public participation was facilitated through two separate comment periods, with citizens providing 4 total public comments addressing both agenda items and issues not on the formal agenda.

The council successfully approved several key items including the meeting summary, budget amendments, new business matters, and items presented in the mayor's report. The meeting followed standard municipal procedures with designated time for council reports and concluded with formal adjournment.

Attendance

The following members were present at the August 22, 2023 meeting:

• Wu
• Ellinger
• Baxter
• Plomin
• Gray
• Reynolds
• Sheehan
• J. Brown
• Fogle
• Lynch
• LeGris
• Monarrez
• Sevigny
• Worley

Absent: F. Brown

No members arrived late to the meeting.

A total of 14 members were present and 1 member was absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted 22 votes during the August 22, 2023 meeting, with most passing unanimously. Several key tax rate decisions required roll call votes with detailed member positions recorded.

Procedural and Administrative Votes The council unanimously approved several routine items including amending the agenda to add employee recognitions (Wu/Ellinger), approving the August 17, 2023 Council meeting docket (Baxter/Plomin), and approving the July 11, 2023 work session summary (Ellinger/Gray). Budget amendments passed unanimously (Gray/Wu), as did neighborhood development funds (Plomin/Baxter) and council capital projects (Ellinger/Wu).

New Business and Special Items New business approval passed with one abstention, as Council Member Sheehan recused on item l (Reynolds/Baxter). The council unanimously approved an amendment to add an allocation to the Old Paris Place Community LLC to the neighborhood development fund list (Gray/Ellinger).

Tax Rate Decisions Multiple tax rate votes occurred, with most passing but showing some division:

• General Services Fund real property tax rate at option 3 passed 14-1 on roll call, with F. Brown voting against and all other members supporting (J. Brown/Ellinger)
• Urban Services Fund Refuse Collection tax rate at Option 5 passed 14-1, again with F. Brown dissenting (J. Brown/Wu)
• Urban Services Fund Street Lights tax rate at Option 5 passed 11-4, with Ellinger, Fogle, Worley, and F. Brown voting against (J. Brown/Baxter)
• An ordinance placing all tax rates on the August 17, 2023 docket passed 12-3, with Ellinger, Worley, and F. Brown opposing (J. Brown/Reynolds)

Other tax rates for personal property, public health (0.0243), and soil and water conservation (0.001) passed unanimously. The council scheduled a public hearing on tax rates for August 31, 2023.

Final Actions The Mayor's Report and Price Contract Bid Recommendations both received unanimous approval before the meeting adjourned (Gray/Fogle).

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed multiple contracts, grants, and financial agreements totaling over $12.9 million in potential funding and expenditures.

Contracts and Agreements:

• Resolution 0790-23: Approved a $55,000 Memorandum of Understanding with NAMI Lexington, Inc. for the Fayette Mental Health Court

• Resolution 0793-23: Authorized partial release of a sanitary sewer easement at 1821 Alysheba Way with no budgetary impact

• Resolution 0796-23: Approved a $118,536 professional service contract with ADS Environmental Services for sewer overflow monitoring and reporting services

• Resolution 0799-23: Authorized the 9th Supplemental Lease Agreement between LFUCG and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board with no budgetary impact for LFUCG

• Resolution 0811-23: Approved a $20,990.85 reimbursement agreement with Windstream Communications, Inc. for relocation of communications cables

• Resolution 0812-23: Authorized $24,300 in lease agreements for houses located in parks with Samuel Garcia, Fred Williamson, Teresa Jill Farmer, and Brian Huddle

• Resolution 0813-23: Approved Change Order No. 3 with Lagco, Inc. for $83,070.56 for the Meadows/Northland/Arlington Public Improvements Project

• Resolution 0817-23: Authorized $12,000 for 2023 Summer Camp Facilitron Permits and Honorariums with the Fayette County Board of Education

Grant Applications and Awards:

• Resolution 0824-23: Accepted an additional $62,566.92 in federal ARPA funds from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

• Resolution 0825-23: Authorized application for $101,667 in federal and state funds for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program

• Resolution 0826-23: Approved application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a $12.5 million Reconnecting Communities & Neighborhoods grant

Public Comment

Four community members addressed the council during the public comment period, raising concerns about taxation, housing, and city planning.

Richard Maloney spoke regarding the proposed street light tax increase. Maloney expressed opposition to the tax increase, characterizing it as only a temporary solution to funding issues. He suggested that the city should instead utilize franchise fees as an alternative funding mechanism for street light maintenance and operations.

Dottie Bean addressed the council about the comprehensive plan of 2045. Bean provided information about upcoming public meetings related to the long-term planning document and encouraged community members to participate in the planning process.

Rock Daniels raised concerns about the broader impact of tax increases on housing affordability within the community. Daniels specifically highlighted how tax increases create additional financial burdens for landlords, which could potentially affect rental housing availability and costs for residents.

Rick Day criticized the MAG study and its effects on employee compensation within the city. Day presented a specific example of an employee whose salary did not increase despite the MAG study determining that their position had increased in value. He expressed frustration with the disconnect between the study's findings and actual compensation adjustments for city employees.

The public comments reflected ongoing community concerns about municipal finances, taxation policies, and their effects on both residents and city operations. The speakers addressed issues ranging from infrastructure funding mechanisms to long-term city planning and employee compensation practices.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for these public comments.*

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the August 22, 2023 meeting was a proposed street light tax increase that drew significant community opposition.

Street Light Tax Increase

Several members of the public voiced opposition to the proposed tax increase designated for street light funding during the public comment period. Community members expressed concerns about the additional financial burden and suggested the city explore alternative funding methods instead of raising taxes.

The disagreement centered on the funding mechanism for street light infrastructure, with residents questioning whether a tax increase was the most appropriate solution. Public commenters proposed that the city consider other revenue sources or cost-saving measures before implementing additional taxes on residents.

The specific outcome of this contested item was not clearly documented in the available meeting materials, and no timestamp information was provided for when this discussion occurred during the meeting.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

The council opened the floor for public comments on issues listed on the agenda during the August 22, 2023 meeting. This agenda item provided an opportunity for community members to address the council regarding specific matters scheduled for discussion during the session.

No specific speakers, comments, or discussion details were recorded for this public comment period in the available meeting documentation. The item was designated as informational, indicating that it served as a formal opportunity for public input rather than requiring council action or decision-making.

This public comment period represents the council's standard practice of allowing community participation in the governmental process by providing a designated time for residents to voice their concerns, opinions, or support regarding agenda items before the council proceeds with formal deliberations.

Requested Rezonings/ Docket Approval

The council reviewed and discussed requested rezonings during this agenda item, ultimately approving the docket for the August 17, 2023 Council meeting.

The discussion focused on various rezoning requests that had been submitted for consideration. Council members examined the proposed changes to zoning designations and their potential impacts on the community.

Following their review and discussion of the rezoning requests, the council voted to approve the docket. This approval allows the items to move forward in the municipal planning process and be formally considered at the August 17, 2023 Council meeting.

The outcome represents the council's procedural advancement of the rezoning requests through the required review stages, enabling further public consideration and formal action at the designated meeting date.

Approval of Summary

The council approved the summary of the July 11, 2023 work session during this agenda item. No specific speakers were identified for this discussion, and no transcript timestamp was available for this portion of the meeting.

The approval appears to have proceeded without significant debate or concerns raised by council members. This type of procedural item typically involves reviewing the accuracy of meeting minutes or summaries from previous sessions to ensure they properly reflect the discussions and decisions that took place.

The outcome was an approval of the July 11, 2023 work session summary, allowing it to become part of the official record.

Budget Amendments

The council discussed and approved budget amendments during the August 22, 2023 meeting.

The agenda item was presented as a discussion item and ultimately received approval from the council members. However, specific details about the nature of the budget amendments, the amounts involved, or which departments or programs were affected were not captured in the available meeting documentation.

No key speakers were identified for this agenda item, and the specific transcript timing for this discussion was not recorded in the meeting materials.

The council voted to approve the budget amendments as presented.

*Note: Limited details were available in the meeting documentation for this agenda item. Readers seeking more specific information about the budget amendments may wish to review the complete meeting video or contact the city clerk's office for additional documentation.*

New Business

The council addressed new business items during this portion of the meeting. The discussion resulted in approval of the new business items under consideration.

One notable aspect of the proceedings was that a council member recused themselves from voting on item "l" within the new business agenda. The specific nature of item "l" and the reason for the recusal were not detailed in the available information.

The remaining new business items were approved by the council without significant recorded debate or opposition. No specific speakers were identified as leading the discussion on these matters, and no particular concerns or objections were noted in the record.

The outcome of this agenda item was approval of the new business items, with the exception of the recusal noted for one specific item.

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

Continuing Business/ Presentations

The council received informational presentations during this portion of the meeting, focusing on two key areas of municipal business.

Reynolds served as a key speaker during the presentations, which covered neighborhood development funds and provided a summary of recent Social Services and Public Safety Committee activities.

The neighborhood development funds presentation likely addressed funding allocations, project updates, or policy matters related to community development initiatives within the municipality. These funds typically support local infrastructure improvements, community programs, or economic development projects at the neighborhood level.

Additionally, the council received a summary report from the Social Services and Public Safety Committee meeting. This type of committee report generally includes updates on public safety initiatives, social service program developments, budget considerations, and policy recommendations that may require future council action.

Both presentations were informational in nature, serving to keep council members informed about ongoing municipal activities and committee work. No formal action was taken during this agenda item, as these presentations were designed to provide updates and maintain transparency regarding various city operations and committee deliberations.

The presentations allow council members to stay current on departmental activities and committee work between formal meetings, ensuring informed decision-making on future agenda items that may require votes or policy decisions.

Council Reports

Council members provided updates and reports on various topics and events during this portion of the meeting. This was an informational agenda item where council members shared updates on their activities and community engagement.

The specific details of individual council member reports, including which members spoke and what topics they covered, were not captured in the available meeting documentation. This segment typically allows council members to inform the public and their colleagues about their participation in community events, committee work, regional meetings, or other activities related to their council duties.

No formal action was taken during this agenda item, as it served purely as an informational update session for the council and public.

*Note: Specific details about individual council member reports and transcript timestamps were not available in the source materials for this meeting.*

Mayor's Report

The council considered and approved the Mayor's Report during the August 22, 2023 meeting. The report included Price Contract Bid Recommendations as part of the mayor's regular reporting to the council.

The agenda item was presented as a discussion item and received council approval without recorded debate or concerns from council members. No specific speakers were identified in the available meeting records for this portion of the proceedings.

The Mayor's Report typically serves as a vehicle for the mayor to update the council on various municipal matters, administrative decisions, and recommendations requiring council consideration or approval. In this case, the report specifically included price contract bid recommendations, suggesting the mayor was seeking council authorization for certain procurement or contracting decisions.

The council's approval of the Mayor's Report indicates acceptance of the information presented and any recommendations contained within it, including the referenced price contract bid recommendations. This approval allows the mayor to proceed with the administrative actions outlined in the report.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item in the provided meeting records.*

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

The council opened the floor for public comments on issues not listed on the agenda during the August 22, 2023 meeting. This agenda item provided an opportunity for community members to address the council on matters of local concern that were not scheduled for formal discussion.

No specific transcript timestamp or detailed speaker information was available for this portion of the meeting. The session was conducted as an informational item, allowing for public input without requiring council action or formal response.

This type of public comment period is a standard component of municipal meetings, designed to ensure community members have access to their elected officials and can bring forward issues that may warrant future consideration by the council.

Adjournment

The council concluded the meeting with a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved, bringing the August 22, 2023 meeting to a close.

No additional discussion or debate occurred during the adjournment process, and no specific concerns were raised by council members regarding the conclusion of the meeting.