Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on September 28, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The meeting focused on two ceremonial agenda items that were both approved by the council. The council took action on 2 motions and votes during the proceedings, addressing the designation of Frank Penn Day and providing recognition for Code Enforcement efforts in the community. Additionally, the meeting included 2 public comments from community members, allowing for citizen input on matters of local concern.

Attendance

The following members were present at the September 28, 2023 meeting:

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

Absent: • Sevigny • Worley

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the September 28, 2023 meeting, with both measures passing by wide margins.

Ordinance 0910-23 1:30 Council member Ellinger motioned to approve an ordinance modifying the conditional zoning restrictions in a Single Family Residential (R-1C) zone, with Elliott Baxter providing the second. The measure passed unanimously on a roll call vote with 13 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, and Wu.

Resolution 0878-23 5:45 Wu motioned to approve a resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with Fayette County Public Schools for transportation services, seconded by Sheehan. The resolution passed with 12 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention. Council members voting in favor were: F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, and Wu. Gray abstained from the vote.

Both items received strong support from the council, with the zoning ordinance achieving complete unanimity and the transportation services agreement passing with only one abstention.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial items requiring council approval.

Laundry Services Contract The council considered Resolution 0875-23, authorizing a contract with Aramark Correctional Services for laundry services supporting the Division of Community Corrections. The multi-year contract is valued at $11,750 total.

Fire Apparatus Cost Amendment Resolution 0879-23 addressed a substantial cost increase for fire department equipment. The amendment covers additional material costs of $224,998 for two custom fire apparatus units being manufactured by Seagrave Fire Apparatus, LLC. This represents a significant budget adjustment for the fire department's vehicle procurement program.

The two resolutions combined represent $236,748 in financial commitments, with the fire apparatus amendment comprising the majority of the expenditure at approximately 95% of the total amount under consideration.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the meeting during the public comment period.

Brittany Price spoke at 180:00 and shared her personal history and service background. Price identified herself as a United States Navy veteran and discussed her experiences during her military service.

Emma addressed the meeting at 185:00 to advocate for a ban on source of income discrimination. Emma presented studies and data to support the effectiveness of such policies in improving housing access for residents. She argued that implementing this ban would help address housing accessibility issues in the community.

The public comment period focused on personal experiences and housing policy advocacy, with speakers drawing on both individual backgrounds and research-based evidence to support their positions.

Appointments

The meeting included two reappointments to local boards and organizations.

David Ashford was reappointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers organizations work with law enforcement to encourage community members to provide anonymous tips about criminal activity.

Paige Bensing was reappointed to the Carnegie Center for Literacy Board of Directors. The Carnegie Center for Literacy is a nonprofit organization that provides literacy education and support services to adults in the community.

Both appointments represent continuity in leadership for these community organizations that serve important public functions in crime prevention and adult education.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one primary contested item that generated significant community engagement and discussion.

Source of Income Discrimination Ban

The proposed ban on source of income discrimination emerged as the central point of contention during the meeting. However, rather than opposition, this item drew strong community support from residents who attended to advocate for its passage.

Community members who spoke during public comment expressed overwhelming support for the discrimination ban, emphasizing its importance for improving housing accessibility. Supporters highlighted how the measure would benefit voucher holders and other residents who rely on alternative income sources, arguing that such discrimination creates barriers to securing adequate housing.

The advocacy focused on the ban's potential to reduce housing discrimination and expand opportunities for vulnerable populations. Residents characterized the measure as a necessary step toward ensuring fair housing practices and preventing landlords from automatically rejecting tenants based solely on their income source, such as housing vouchers or disability benefits.

While the extracted data indicates this as a "contested" item due to the level of community engagement and discussion it generated, the nature of the contest was primarily supportive advocacy rather than opposition. The community members present appeared unified in their support for the proposed ban, using the public comment period to urge officials to move forward with the measure.

The outcome of this discussion and whether the governing body took action on the source of income discrimination ban was not specified in the available information, though the strong community support demonstrated clear public interest in advancing this housing policy initiative.

Frank Penn Day

2:30

Mayor Gorton presented proclamation 0822-23, officially declaring September 28, 2023, as Frank Penn Day in Lexington. The proclamation recognized Frank Penn's significant contributions to the community and his dedicated service on the Planning Commission.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton highlighted Penn's commitment to civic engagement and his role in helping shape the city's development through his work on the Planning Commission. The proclamation acknowledged Penn's ongoing efforts to serve the residents of Lexington and his positive impact on community planning initiatives.

Frank Penn was present at the meeting to receive the proclamation. The agenda item was presented as a ceremonial recognition without requiring formal council debate or discussion.

The proclamation was approved, officially establishing September 28, 2023, as Frank Penn Day in the city of Lexington.

Recognition of Code Enforcement

4:00

Mayor Gorton presented agenda item 0912-23, a proclamation recognizing October 2023 as Code Enforcement Month. The proclamation highlighted the significant achievements and contributions of the city's Code Enforcement Division to the community.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton emphasized the division's recent accreditation, marking a notable milestone for the department. The recognition acknowledged the important role code enforcement plays in maintaining community standards and ensuring public safety through the enforcement of municipal codes and regulations.

Key speakers included Mayor Gorton, who delivered the proclamation, along with Alex Olszowy and Lee Steele, who participated in the recognition ceremony. The speakers highlighted the division's dedication to serving the community and their professional accomplishments that led to the recent accreditation.

The proclamation served to formally acknowledge the work of code enforcement officers and staff members who contribute to maintaining the quality of life in the community through their enforcement activities. The recognition of October as Code Enforcement Month aligns with national efforts to highlight the importance of code enforcement in local government operations.

The agenda item was approved without opposition, demonstrating unanimous support for recognizing the Code Enforcement Division's contributions to the community and their professional achievements, particularly the recent accreditation milestone.