Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on October 10, 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 nine agenda items during the session, covering a range of municipal business including zoning matters, budget amendments, and ongoing city initiatives.

The council conducted 13 motions and votes throughout the meeting, with most substantive items receiving approval. Key business items that were approved included requested rezonings and docket matters, budget amendments, new business proposals, and the mayor's report. The council also heard informational presentations during the continuing business portion of the meeting and received reports from council members.

Public participation was facilitated through two separate comment periods, with three total public comments heard during the session. Citizens were given opportunities to address both issues that appeared on the meeting agenda as well as matters not specifically scheduled for discussion. The meeting followed standard council procedures with approval of meeting summaries and consideration of both new and continuing business items before the council.

Attendance

The meeting on October 10, 2023, had strong attendance with 15 members present and 1 member absent.

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

Absent: • Sevigny

No members arrived late to the meeting. With 15 of 16 members in attendance, the meeting had a quorum to conduct official business.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted 13 votes during the October 10, 2023 meeting, with all motions passing unanimously 0:00.

Administrative Approvals: - Council unanimously approved the Thursday, September 28, 2023 Council Meeting docket, motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Wu - The September 19, 2023 work session summary was approved on a motion by Wu, seconded by Plomin - Budget amendments were approved unanimously on a motion by Gray, seconded by LeGris

Docket Additions: - Council voted to place a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an Amendment to the Purchase of Service Agreement with Ernst & Young, LLP on the September 28, 2023 Council Meeting docket, motioned by Wu and seconded by Baxter - A resolution condemning necessary permanent and temporary easements across property at 2710 Sullivans Trace was placed on the September 28, 2023 Council Meeting docket, motioned by Wu and seconded by Fogle

Program and Committee Actions: - New Business was approved on a motion by Gray, seconded by Baxter - Neighborhood Development Funds from September 26, 2023 were approved, motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Fogle - Medical Debt Relief was referred to the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee on a motion by Wu, seconded by Reynolds

Mayor's Reports: - The Mayor's Report was approved on a motion by Wu, seconded by Plomin - Price Contract Bid Recommendations from the Mayor's Report were separately approved, motioned by Gray and seconded by Wu

Executive Session: - Council entered Closed Session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(c) to discuss proposed litigation, motioned by Wu and seconded by Plomin - Council returned from Closed Session on a motion by Gray, seconded by Baxter

The meeting concluded with adjournment, motioned by Fogle and seconded by Wu.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed multiple financial items totaling over $1.2 million in contracts and grants across various city departments and initiatives.

Major Contracts Approved:

• L1036-23: $563,100 contract with TSW for the Urban Growth Management Master Plan, representing the largest single expenditure
• L0981-23: $188,000 contract with EHI Consultants for Affordable Housing Needs Assessment Analysis
• L1002-23: $110,679.32 contract with U.S. Communities for the Kronos Dimensions Migration project
• L0999-23: $100,000 contract with LexArts covering first-year salary for a new grants specialist position and support for arts equity grants

Equipment and Technology Purchases:

• L0986-23: $31,251.60 contract with J Edinger & Sons for snow plow parts purchase
• L0982-23: $10,500 contract with Interview Now Inc. for software solution supporting recruiting and hiring for the Division of Fire and Emergency Services
• L1015-23: $7,579.20 contract with Intrado Life & Safety Solutions for ECaTS statistical package

Grant Acceptances:

• L1025-23: $102,000 grant from Kentucky State Police-Vehicle Enforcement Division for Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
• L1023-23: $79,000 grant from Kentucky Department of Education/Division of School and Community Nutrition for Child Care Food Program at the Family Care Center
• L1031-23: $52,000 grant from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for Rosemont Garden Sidewalk Project construction phase
• L1026-23: $28,000 grant from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for Armstrong Mill Shared Use Path Project design phase

The financial actions encompassed infrastructure improvements, technology upgrades, public safety enhancements, and community services across multiple city departments.

Public Comment

Three speakers addressed the council during the public comment period 0:00.

Chris Hoskins spoke regarding proposed resolution 1311-23, expressing concerns about the constitutional validity of the proposed resolution to condemn property near Sullivan's Trace. Hoskins suggested that reasonable alternatives to the condemnation have not been adequately considered by the council.

Christian Thorpe, identifying himself as an affordable housing developer, addressed the council on affordable housing matters. Thorpe emphasized the importance of prioritizing the needs of local residents over out-of-state investors when making housing-related decisions. His comments highlighted the ongoing challenges facing local housing development and the need for policies that serve the community's residents.

Rick Day raised concerns about employee reclassification issues within the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG). Day questioned the reclassification process for certain LFUCG employees that occurred in 2021, expressing concerns about the fairness of the process and how it compared to treatment of other employees within the organization.

The public comments covered a range of municipal issues including property rights and condemnation procedures, affordable housing policy priorities, and internal government employment practices. Each speaker brought forward specific concerns about different aspects of local government operations and policy decisions.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that drew community opposition and raised constitutional concerns.

Resolution 1311-23 - Property Condemnation Near Sullivan's Trace

Chris Hoskins voiced objections to Resolution 1311-23, which proposed condemning property located near Sullivan's Trace. Hoskins challenged the resolution on constitutional grounds, arguing that the proposed condemnation action may not meet legal standards for eminent domain proceedings.

The primary concern raised centered on the adequacy of the government's consideration of alternatives to condemnation. Hoskins contended that reasonable alternatives to seizing the property had not been properly evaluated or explored before moving forward with the condemnation resolution. This argument suggests the resolution may be premature or legally vulnerable if challenged in court.

The constitutional validity question appears to focus on whether the condemnation meets the required legal standards, including proper public purpose justification and demonstration that condemnation is necessary when other options are not viable.

The outcome of this contested item was not specified in the available meeting data, leaving unclear whether the resolution proceeded to a vote, was tabled for further consideration, or was modified to address the constitutional concerns raised by Hoskins.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00

During the public comment period for agenda items, two speakers addressed the council regarding proposed resolution 1311-23 and affordable housing matters.

Speakers: • Chris Hoskins • Christian Thorpe

Both speakers focused their comments on resolution 1311-23 and issues related to affordable housing in the community. The public comment period provided residents an opportunity to share their perspectives on these agenda items before the council's formal consideration.

This portion of the meeting was informational in nature, allowing for public input on matters scheduled for discussion during the meeting.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

0:00 The council addressed the approval of the docket for the upcoming council meeting during this agenda item.

The discussion involved key speakers Ellinger and Wu, who presented the docket items requiring council approval. The docket contained various rezoning requests and related matters scheduled for consideration at a future council meeting.

The council reviewed the proposed docket without significant debate or concerns raised during the discussion. The agenda item proceeded smoothly through the approval process.

Outcome: The council approved the docket for the upcoming council meeting.

*Note: Limited transcript details were available for this agenda item, which occurred at the beginning of the meeting.*

Approval of Summary

0:00

The council considered approval of the summary from their September 19, 2023 work session. The agenda item was presented as a resolution requiring council action.

Key speakers during this discussion included Wu and Plomin, though the specific details of their contributions are not detailed in the available materials.

The council proceeded to approve the summary of the September 19, 2023 work session without recorded objections or significant debate based on the available information.

Outcome: The summary was approved by the council.

Budget Amendments

0:00 The council considered budget amendments for various municipal projects and initiatives during this agenda item.

The discussion was led by key speakers Gray and LeGris, who presented the proposed budget modifications to the council for consideration. The amendments addressed funding adjustments for multiple city projects and programs, though specific details about the individual amendments and their monetary amounts were not provided in the available materials.

The council proceeded to vote on the budget amendments as presented. Following the discussion and any questions from council members, the amendments were approved by the council.

The approval of these budget amendments allows the city to proceed with the funding adjustments necessary for the various projects and initiatives covered under this resolution. This action demonstrates the council's ongoing management of municipal finances and their commitment to ensuring proper allocation of city resources.

New Business

0:00

The council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting, with Gray and Baxter serving as the primary speakers for the discussion.

The new business segment focused on the approval of various contracts and grants for municipal projects. While the specific details of individual contracts and grant applications were not detailed in the available materials, the items collectively represented ongoing city initiatives requiring council authorization.

Gray and Baxter presented the new business items to the council for consideration. The discussion appeared to proceed without significant debate or controversy, suggesting the items were largely procedural or had been previously reviewed in committee.

The council ultimately approved the new business items as presented. The approval encompassed multiple contracts and grants that will support various city projects, though the specific nature, scope, and financial details of these agreements were not specified in the available documentation.

The streamlined nature of this agenda item suggests these were routine municipal matters that had likely undergone preliminary review and vetting before reaching the full council for final approval.

Continuing Business/Presentations

0:00

The council addressed ongoing business matters and received informational presentations during this portion of the October 10, 2023 meeting. Key speakers included Ellinger and Fogle, who provided updates on various municipal topics.

The session served as an informational briefing for council members, covering continuing projects and initiatives under the city's purview. While specific details of the presentations were not elaborated in the available materials, this agenda item typically encompasses updates on previously discussed matters requiring ongoing council oversight.

Both Ellinger and Fogle contributed to the discussion, though the exact nature of their presentations and the specific topics covered were not detailed in the source materials. The item was classified as informational in nature, indicating that no formal votes or decisions were required during this portion of the meeting.

This continuing business segment represents the council's regular practice of maintaining awareness of ongoing municipal operations and receiving status updates on various city initiatives and projects.

Council Reports

0:00

Council members provided updates on various community events and initiatives during the Council Reports portion of the meeting. The discussion was informational in nature, with no formal actions taken.

Key speakers during this segment included Council members Wu and Reynolds, who shared updates on ongoing community matters and upcoming events. The reports covered various municipal activities and initiatives affecting the local community.

This agenda item served as an opportunity for council members to inform the public and their colleagues about relevant developments in their respective areas of responsibility. The updates provided transparency regarding council activities and kept attendees informed about community happenings.

No specific concerns were raised during this reporting period, and no formal decisions or votes were required. The session concluded with the informational updates having been shared with meeting attendees.

Mayor's Report

0:00

Mayor Wu presented updates on various city initiatives and projects during the Mayor's Report portion of the October 10, 2023 meeting. The report covered ongoing municipal activities and developments affecting the city.

The discussion involved Mayor Wu as the primary speaker, with participation from Plomin during the presentation of city updates and project status reports.

The Mayor's Report was approved by the council following the presentation of the various city initiatives and project updates.

*Note: Specific details about the initiatives, projects, and discussion points were not available in the provided source materials. The transcript would contain the complete content of the mayor's presentation and any questions or comments from council members.*

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

0:00

During the public comment period for issues not on the agenda, Rick Day addressed the meeting with concerns regarding the reclassification of certain Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) employees.

Day raised questions about the process and implications of employee reclassifications within the city government structure. The specific details of his concerns regarding which employees were being reclassified and the nature of the reclassification were presented during his public comment time.

This agenda item was informational in nature, providing an opportunity for public input on matters not specifically scheduled for discussion during the meeting. No formal action was taken by the governing body in response to Day's comments, as is typical for public comment periods.

The public comment period serves as a forum for citizens to bring issues to the attention of elected officials and city administration, even when those matters are not part of the formal meeting agenda.