Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on August 31, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The council addressed three agenda items during the meeting, all of which were approved by the body. The meeting included consideration of a proclamation for Charisse Gillett Day, as well as two tax-related ordinances concerning ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes and a public health tax.

The council conducted three formal votes during the session, with all motions receiving approval. One member of the public provided comments during the designated public comment period. The meeting demonstrated the council's focus on both ceremonial recognition and fiscal matters, successfully advancing all items on the agenda through the legislative process.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on August 31, 2023:

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

Absent: Fogle

Late Arrival: Worley

A total of 14 members were present for the meeting, with one member absent and one member arriving late.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on three tax-related ordinances during the meeting, with all three measures passing.

Ordinance 0829-23 6:06 - An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 was approved unanimously. F. Brown made the motion, seconded by Ellinger. The vote was 14-0 with all council members voting in favor: Worley, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, and Sheehan.

Ordinance 0830-23 6:07 - An Ordinance adopting the request of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department and levying a special ad valorem public health tax also passed unanimously. Ellinger made the motion, seconded by Plomin. The vote was 14-0 with the same council members voting in favor.

Ordinance 0831-23 6:07 - An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for purposes of support of the Soil and Water Conservation District passed by a roll call vote of 12-2. Ellinger made the motion, seconded by Plomin. Voting in favor were Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, and Sheehan. Voting against were Worley and F. Brown.

All three ordinances related to tax levies for the upcoming fiscal year, with the municipal tax ordinance and health department tax receiving unanimous support, while the soil and water conservation tax faced some opposition but still passed with a strong majority.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several significant financial items totaling over $3.5 million in contracts and grant funding.

Construction Contract The council approved Resolution 0773-23, authorizing a $764,812 contract with Lagco, Inc. for the Meadows Northland Arlington 6C1 A&B project. This construction-related contract represents a substantial infrastructure investment for the jurisdiction.

Animal Control Services A major service contract was approved under Resolution 0766-23, allocating $1,871,590 to Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control, LLC for animal control services. This multi-year agreement represents the largest financial commitment discussed at the meeting and ensures continued animal welfare services for the community.

Emergency Preparedness Grant The council acted on Resolution 0786-23 to accept $930,050 in grant funding for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP). This federal grant will support emergency preparedness initiatives related to chemical stockpile management and community safety protocols.

The three financial actions collectively represent approximately $3.57 million in approved spending and accepted funding, with the animal control services contract comprising more than half of the total financial commitments. All items were processed through formal resolutions, indicating standard procurement and approval procedures were followed.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the board regarding municipal services and taxation.

Mr. Sevigny spoke at 6:03 about his research into refuse collection and street lighting services. He discussed the financial aspects of these municipal services and shared his findings regarding the future of Ad Valorem taxes. Sevigny's comments focused on the intersection of service delivery costs and property tax implications for the community.

No other members of the public provided comments during this portion of the meeting.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions.

New Appointments: • Anne Tyler Morgan was appointed to the Industrial Authority Board • Kaelyn Query was appointed to the Economic Development Investment Board • David Blake was appointed to the Ethics Commission • Gina Ensminger was appointed to the Vacant Property Review Commission

Reappointments: • Wanda Jaquith was reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission • Jackson Osborne was reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission

The appointments span multiple areas of city governance, including economic development, ethics oversight, historic preservation, and vacant property management. The Industrial Authority Board appointment of Anne Tyler Morgan and the Economic Development Investment Board appointment of Kaelyn Query reflect the city's focus on business development initiatives. David Blake's appointment to the Ethics Commission adds to the city's oversight capabilities for ethical conduct matters.

The Historic Preservation Commission saw two reappointments with Wanda Jaquith and Jackson Osborne continuing their service on the commission responsible for protecting the city's historic resources. Gina Ensminger's appointment to the Vacant Property Review Commission addresses ongoing efforts to manage and revitalize vacant properties throughout the city.

These appointments represent the city's ongoing effort to maintain active citizen participation in municipal governance through various boards and commissions that advise on specialized areas of city operations and policy.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split vote among board members.

Ad Valorem Taxes for Soil and Water Conservation District

The primary point of contention during the meeting involved an ordinance to levy ad valorem taxes for the Soil and Water Conservation District. This measure generated disagreement among board members, ultimately resulting in a divided vote rather than unanimous approval.

The ordinance successfully passed with 12 members voting in favor and 2 members voting against the measure. While the specific details of the opposition arguments were not captured in the available meeting data, the split vote indicates there was meaningful debate or concern among some board members regarding the tax levy.

The passage of this ordinance means the Soil and Water Conservation District will be authorized to collect ad valorem taxes, which are taxes based on the assessed value of property. These funds typically support conservation programs, soil protection initiatives, and water management projects within the district's jurisdiction.

Despite the opposition from two board members, the majority support ensured the ordinance's approval, allowing the district to move forward with its tax collection authority for conservation efforts.

Charisse Gillett Day

6:05

Mayor Gorton presented agenda item 0765-23, a proclamation declaring August 31, 2023, as Reverend Doctor Charisse L. Gillett Day in Lexington. The proclamation recognized Rev. Dr. Gillett's contributions and achievements to the community.

During the presentation, J. Brown spoke in support of the proclamation, highlighting Rev. Dr. Gillett's impact and service. Rev. Dr. Charisse Gillett herself was present at the meeting to receive the recognition.

The proclamation was approved, officially establishing August 31, 2023, as Reverend Doctor Charisse L. Gillett Day in the city of Lexington. The agenda item proceeded without opposition or debate, reflecting unanimous support for honoring Rev. Dr. Gillett's contributions to the community.

Ad Valorem Taxes for Municipal Purposes

6:06

The council considered Ordinance 0829-23, which establishes ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.

The discussion involved key speakers Sevigny and F. Brown, who presented the ordinance to levy the annual property taxes needed to fund municipal operations during the upcoming fiscal year.

The ordinance follows the standard annual process of setting property tax rates to generate revenue for city services and operations. Ad valorem taxes are assessed based on the value of real and personal property within the municipal boundaries and represent a primary funding source for local government functions.

The council approved the ordinance, formally establishing the tax levy for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This approval enables the municipality to collect the necessary property tax revenue to support budgeted municipal services and operations throughout the fiscal year period.

Public Health Tax

6:07

The Urban County Council considered Ordinance 0830-23, which adopts a request from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department to levy a special ad valorem public health tax. This ordinance would establish a dedicated tax mechanism to fund public health services in Fayette County.

The measure was presented as a formal adoption of the Health Department's request for this special property tax levy. Ad valorem taxes are assessed based on the value of real property, meaning property owners would pay the tax based on their property's assessed value.

The ordinance was approved by the Council, establishing the legal framework for the public health tax levy. This approval allows the Health Department to proceed with implementing the special tax to support its operations and public health initiatives in the community.

The specific tax rate, revenue projections, and detailed implementation timeline were not discussed in the available meeting materials. The ordinance represents the Council's formal authorization for the Health Department to move forward with this funding mechanism for public health services in Lexington-Fayette County.