Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on August 29, 2023, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The council addressed 10 agenda items during the session, covering a range of municipal business including zoning matters, budget issues, and administrative approvals.

The council took 11 votes throughout the meeting, approving several key items including requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, new business items, continuing business and presentations, and the mayor's report. No public comments were received during either of the designated public comment periods - one for issues on the agenda and another for issues not on the agenda.

The meeting followed a structured format with both informational items and action items requiring council approval. Budget-related matters featured prominently on the agenda, with both budget amendments requiring approval and budget adjustments presented for informational purposes only. The session concluded with council reports and the mayor's report, providing updates on ongoing municipal activities and initiatives.

Attendance

All council members were present for the August 29, 2023 meeting.

Present: • Mayor Gorton • Vice Mayor Wu • Councilmember Baxter • Councilmember Ellinger • Councilmember Gray • Councilmember Lynch • Councilmember Sevigny • Councilmember Sheehan • Councilmember James Brown • Councilmember Fred Brown • Councilmember Chuck Ellinger • Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds • Councilmember Kathy Plomin • Councilmember Reynolds • Councilmember Plomin

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with no absences or late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted eleven voice votes during the August 29, 2023 meeting, with all motions passing unanimously.

Meeting Procedures • [00:30] Councilmember Ellinger moved to approve the meeting docket, seconded by Councilmember Gray - Passed • [06:00] Councilmember Gray moved to approve the August 22 council work session motions, seconded by Councilmember Sheehan - Passed • [31:00] Councilmember Fogle moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilmember Gray - Passed

Financial and Budget Items • [07:00] Councilmember Ellinger moved to approve budget amendments, seconded by Vice Mayor Wu - Passed • [12:00] Councilmember Sheehan moved to approve neighborhood development funds, seconded by Councilmember Reynolds - Passed • [14:00] Councilmember Plomin moved to approve council capital projects, seconded by Councilmember Sheehan - Passed • [29:00] Councilmember Plomin moved to approve price contract bid recommendations, seconded by Vice Mayor Wu - Passed

Administrative Actions • [02:00] Councilmember Sevigny moved to place on the August 31, 2023 council meeting docket a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an order form with Go Goff Inc., seconded by Vice Mayor Wu - Passed • [09:00] Councilmember Ellinger moved to approve new business items, seconded by Councilmember Baxter - Passed • [28:00] Councilmember Sevigny moved to approve the mayor's report, seconded by Councilmember Reynolds - Passed

Future Planning • [18:00] Councilmember Reynolds moved to place the Woodward Heights Residential Parking Program on the September 19th work session packet for public comment, seconded by Councilmember Sheehan - Passed

All votes were conducted by voice vote with no recorded individual vote counts or dissenting votes.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council approved multiple contracts, grants, and financial agreements totaling over $2.8 million in expenditures and revenue.

Infrastructure and Transportation - L0823-23: Authorized installation of three speed tables on Dallas Avenue for $13,500 - L0827-23: Approved a participating agreement with Ceragon Networks, Inc for radio equipment totaling $420,000 - L0851-23: Contracted Crawford, Murphy & Tilly for $172,836 to verify and recalibrate traffic signal clearance intervals - L0859-23: Authorized W-T Group, LLC to conduct a comprehensive update of the LFUCG ADA Transition Plan for $200,000

Emergency Services and Public Safety - L0846-23: Approved purchase of two used Ferno iNX stretchers for $73,242.60 - L0857-23: Established O2X Human Performance as a sole source provider under a $336,000 contract - L0858-23: Accepted $217,000 in federal funds from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Office of Highway Safety

Community Services and Grants - L0852-23: Approved Amendment No. 2 to the grant agreement with the Bluegrass Area Development District for $46,675.34 - L0855-23: Renewed a Purchase of Service Agreement with the Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass for $50,000 - L0856-23: Continued the Home Network Project at the Family Care Center with $711,152 in grant funding to the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department

Property and Legal Services - L0861-23: Authorized the sale of 1565 McGrathiana Parkway to Metro Employees Credit Union for $578,250 - L0862-23: Contracted Thomson Reuters for online legal research services at $25,924.64 - L0837-23 and L0853-23: Approved agreements with no budgetary impact for a utility easement release and an amendment with Lexington Children's Museum, respectively

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00

During the public comment period for issues on the agenda, no members of the public came forward to address the governing body. The meeting proceeded without any public input on the items scheduled for discussion and consideration during the session.

This portion of the meeting was designated for community members to provide comments, questions, or concerns specifically related to the agenda items that would be addressed later in the meeting. However, no speakers utilized this opportunity to engage with the board or council on any of the scheduled business items.

The absence of public comment allowed the meeting to move forward directly to the regular agenda items without additional input or concerns from community members.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

1:00 The council considered and approved the docket for requested rezonings during this agenda item. The discussion involved multiple council members reviewing zone change proposals.

Key participants in the discussion included: - Councilmember Sevigny - Councilmember Gray - Councilmember Plomin

The council members engaged in deliberations regarding the various rezoning requests included in the docket. While specific details of individual rezoning cases were not provided in the available materials, the discussion centered on the formal approval process for zone changes within the jurisdiction.

Following the discussion among the council members, the docket was approved, allowing the rezoning requests to move forward in the municipal review process. The approval represents the council's formal endorsement of the proposed zone changes as presented in the docket.

Outcome: Approved

Approval of Summary

6:00

The council considered approval of the summary from the August 22 council work session. Councilmember Gray and Councilmember Sheehan participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The council voted to approve the summary of the August 22 council work session without recorded debate or concerns raised during the meeting.

Outcome: Approved

Budget Amendments

7:00

The council considered budget amendments during the meeting, with discussion led by Councilmember Ellinger and Vice Mayor Wu. The amendments were presented to the council for approval as part of the regular budget management process.

The council approved the budget amendments as presented without recorded opposition or significant debate. No specific details about the nature, scope, or dollar amounts of the amendments were captured in the available meeting materials.

Outcome: The budget amendments were approved by the council.

Budget Adjustments - For Information Only

8:00

Budget adjustments were presented to the meeting participants for informational purposes only. This agenda item did not require any formal action or voting by the governing body.

The presentation provided an overview of necessary budget modifications, though specific details about the nature, scope, or dollar amounts of these adjustments were not captured in the available meeting documentation. As an informational item, the adjustments likely represented routine administrative changes to the budget that fall within the authority of staff or had already been approved through other processes.

No formal discussion, debate, or concerns were recorded regarding these budget adjustments. The informational nature of the presentation suggests these were standard budgetary modifications that the governing body needed to be aware of but did not require their approval or input.

Since this was presented for information only, no formal outcome or action was taken on this agenda item. The budget adjustments stand as presented, serving to keep the governing body informed of current budgetary status and modifications.

New Business

9:00

The council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting, with the agenda item classified as a resolution that ultimately received approval.

Councilmember Ellinger and Councilmember Baxter served as the primary speakers for the new business discussion. The session focused on multiple financial authorizations that required council approval, though specific details about the individual items and their monetary amounts were not detailed in the available materials.

The discussion proceeded through the various financial matters requiring authorization, with both Councilmember Ellinger and Councilmember Baxter participating in the presentation and deliberation of the items. The nature of their specific contributions to the discussion, including any particular concerns raised or support expressed, was not captured in the available summary materials.

The council ultimately approved the new business items presented during this session. The approval encompassed the financial authorizations that were brought forward, indicating that the council found the proposed expenditures or financial commitments to be appropriate and necessary.

The new business segment represents a routine but important function of the council's work, addressing financial matters that require formal authorization to proceed. The successful approval of these items allows the relevant departments or initiatives to move forward with their planned activities or expenditures.

Continuing Business/Presentations

12:00 The council addressed continuing business items related to neighborhood development funding and capital projects during this portion of the meeting.

Councilmember Sheehan and Councilmember Reynolds served as the key speakers for this agenda item, presenting information about proposed neighborhood development funds and council capital projects to their colleagues.

The discussion focused on the approval of funding allocations for various neighborhood development initiatives and capital improvement projects under the council's purview. While specific project details and funding amounts were not detailed in the available materials, the presentations covered multiple initiatives designed to benefit local neighborhoods and infrastructure.

The council ultimately approved the neighborhood development funds and council capital projects as presented. The resolution passed without significant recorded opposition or extended debate, suggesting general consensus among council members regarding the proposed funding allocations.

This agenda item represents part of the council's ongoing work to allocate resources for community development and infrastructure improvements, with the approved funds and projects moving forward for implementation.

Council Reports

16:00 Councilmembers provided updates on various community and council activities during the council reports segment.

Key Speakers: • Councilmember James Brown • Councilmember Gray • Councilmember Reynolds

The council reports served as an informational presentation where councilmembers shared updates on their recent activities and community engagement efforts. This agenda item provided an opportunity for elected officials to inform the public and fellow council members about ongoing initiatives, meetings attended, and other matters relevant to their council duties.

The reports were presented in a standard format, with each participating councilmember taking time to share their updates with the council and public attendees. This type of agenda item is typically used to maintain transparency about councilmember activities and keep the community informed about various projects and initiatives being pursued by individual council members.

No formal action was taken during this segment, as council reports are informational in nature and designed to facilitate communication between councilmembers and with the public about ongoing council-related activities and community engagement efforts.

Mayor's Report

28:00

The council reviewed and approved the Mayor's Report during the August 29, 2023 meeting. The report included price contract bid recommendations that required council approval.

Councilmember Sevigny and Councilmember Reynolds were the key participants in the discussion of this agenda item. The report was presented as a resolution requiring formal council action.

The specific details of the price contract bids and the nature of the recommendations were not detailed in the available materials, but the item was categorized as part of the mayor's regular reporting to the council on municipal business matters.

The council ultimately approved the Mayor's Report, including the price contract bid recommendations contained within it. No significant concerns or opposition were noted during the discussion of this item.

The approval allows the recommended price contracts to move forward as proposed by the mayor's office.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

30:00

During the public comment period for issues not on the agenda, no members of the public came forward to address the board. The meeting proceeded without any public input on matters outside of the scheduled agenda items.

This portion of the meeting was informational only, as it provided an opportunity for community members to bring forward concerns or topics not specifically listed on the day's agenda. However, no speakers utilized this time to present comments or raise issues for the board's consideration.