Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on October 17, 2023, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Mayor 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 took eight formal votes throughout the meeting, approving several key items including requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, new business items, and the mayor's report. Two public comment periods were held, allowing citizens to address both agenda-related issues and matters not on the formal agenda. The meeting also included informational presentations and reports from council members and the mayor, providing updates on continuing city business and initiatives.

Attendance

The following members were present at the October 17, 2023 meeting:

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

Absent: • F. Brown

Late Arrivals: • None

A total of 14 members were present for the meeting, with one member absent. No members arrived late to the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted eight unanimous votes during the October 17, 2023 meeting, with all motions passing without opposition 0:00.

Meeting Administration • October 12, 2023 Council Meeting Docket: Motion by Wu, seconded by Fogle - Passed unanimously • September 26, 2023 Work Session Summary: Motion by Plomin, seconded by LeGris - Passed unanimously

Financial Matters • Budget Amendments: Motion by Wu, seconded by Baxter - Passed unanimously • Neighborhood Development Funds (October 10, 2023): Motion by Baxter, seconded by Wu - Passed unanimously • Amendment to Neighborhood Development Funds: Motion by Sheehan, seconded by J. Brown to allocate an additional $300.00 to Castlegate Maintenance Association - Passed unanimously

General Business • New Business Approval: Motion by Ellinger, seconded by Gray - Passed unanimously • Mayor's Report: Motion by Gray, seconded by Fogle - Passed unanimously

Meeting Conclusion • Adjournment: Motion by Fogle, seconded by Baxter - Passed unanimously

All votes were conducted as voice votes with unanimous consent. No roll call votes were taken, and no council members voted against any motions or abstained from voting. The meeting proceeded efficiently through all agenda items with full council support for each measure presented.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed seven financial items totaling over $1.4 million in expenditures, contracts, and grant applications.

Amendments and Property Acquisitions • Resolution 0947-23 amended Resolution 246-2023 to allocate an additional $2,000 for merchant processing services at the City Employee Pharmacy • Resolution 1040-23 authorized $223,400 for fee simple partial property acquisition related to the Allendale Drive Stormwater Project

Service Contracts and Purchases • Resolution 1043-23 approved $56,587 for the purchase of SCADA Citect/Historian Support for the Division of Water Quality Operations from vendor ATR Automation • Resolution 1049-23 authorized a $127,500 service agreement with the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center for fiscal year 2024 • Resolution 1056-23 approved a $137,500 agreement with Quality Counts, LLC to evaluate roadway curves

Grant Applications The city authorized applications for two significant grant opportunities: • Resolution 1053-23 approved submitting an application for the 2020 Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) grant worth $95,164 • Resolution 1054-23 authorized applying for the Kentucky Community Crisis Co-Response Grant Program, seeking $775,000 in funding

The largest single financial item was the Kentucky Community Crisis Co-Response Grant application at $775,000, followed by the Allendale Drive Stormwater Project property acquisition at $223,400. Combined, the contracted services with Quality Counts, LLC and the Lyric Theatre totaled $265,000. The water quality operations support purchase and both grant applications represented investments in public safety and infrastructure improvements.

Public Comment

Two community members addressed the council during the public comment period.

Dotie Bean 0:00 spoke about council operations and affordable housing issues. Bean commended the council for asking probing questions during their deliberations and stressed the critical importance of affordable housing initiatives. She also emphasized the need for careful and responsible management of public funds.

Emma Anderson 0:00 from Kentucky Tenants addressed the council regarding source of income discrimination. Anderson discussed the significance of tackling discrimination against tenants who rely on housing vouchers and other forms of rental assistance. She highlighted how this type of discrimination impacts vulnerable community members seeking housing opportunities.

Both speakers focused on housing-related concerns, with Bean taking a broader view of affordable housing policy and Anderson addressing specific discrimination issues affecting tenants with alternative income sources.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00

No members of the public provided comments on agenda items during this portion of the meeting. The public comment period for issues on the agenda was opened but no speakers came forward to address the governing body.

This agenda item serves as a designated opportunity for community members to speak directly to elected officials about specific matters scheduled for consideration during the meeting. The absence of public participation during this segment indicates that no residents or stakeholders chose to exercise their right to provide input on the day's agenda topics.

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 two key speakers: Wu and Fogle, who presented the docket materials for council consideration. The item was categorized as a resolution requiring formal council action.

The council proceeded to approve the docket as presented, with no significant debate or concerns raised during the discussion. The approval allows the scheduled items to move forward to the upcoming council meeting as planned.

The outcome was an approval of the docket, enabling the council to proceed with their planned agenda items for the next meeting session.

Approval of Summary

0:00 The council addressed the approval of the summary from their previous work session. Council members Plomin and LeGris participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The council reviewed the summary document that had been prepared following their prior work session. This procedural item allows the council to formally approve the accuracy and completeness of the summary before proceeding with other business.

The agenda item was presented as a resolution requiring council action. After discussion between the participating council members, the summary was approved without any noted objections or concerns raised during the proceedings.

The approval of the work session summary was completed, allowing the council to move forward with the remainder of their meeting agenda.

Budget Amendments

The council considered budget amendments during the October 17, 2023 meeting 0:00.

Council members Wu and Baxter served as the key speakers for this agenda item, which was presented as a resolution requiring council approval.

The council ultimately approved the budget amendments, though the specific details of the amendments, the discussion points raised by the speakers, and any concerns or debate that may have occurred during consideration of this item were not captured in the available meeting materials.

This resolution-type agenda item followed standard council procedures for budget modifications, requiring formal approval from the governing body before implementation.

New Business

0:00

The council addressed new business items during this portion of the meeting. Council members Ellinger and Gray were the primary speakers for this agenda item.

The council considered and discussed various new business matters, though specific details of the individual items were not provided in the available materials. Both Ellinger and Gray participated in the discussion of these new business items.

Following deliberation, the council approved the new business items that were presented. The resolution passed, allowing the proposed new business matters to move forward.

The new business portion of the meeting concluded with the council's approval of the items under consideration.

Continuing Business/Presentations

0:00 The council addressed ongoing projects and received updates on various municipal initiatives during this agenda item.

Council members Baxter and Wu served as the primary speakers for this portion of the meeting, providing information on continuing business matters and presenting updates to their colleagues.

The discussion focused on ongoing projects and initiatives that required council attention or updates. While specific details of the individual presentations were not detailed in the available materials, this agenda item served an informational purpose, allowing council members to stay current on various municipal matters in progress.

The session was structured as an informational update rather than requiring formal action or voting by the council members. This type of agenda item typically allows for questions and discussion among council members regarding the status and progress of ongoing city business.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, with no specific resolutions or formal decisions recorded as part of this discussion.

Council Reports

Council members Gray and Fogle provided updates on district activities and upcoming events during the council reports segment of the meeting 0:00.

This agenda item served as an informational presentation where council members shared updates relevant to their respective districts and the broader community. The reports covered various activities and events that council members wanted to bring to the attention of their colleagues and the public.

Gray and Fogle were the primary speakers during this portion of the meeting, each providing their respective updates on local matters and upcoming initiatives within their areas of responsibility.

The council reports segment was purely informational in nature, with no formal action items or decisions requiring council votes. This type of agenda item typically allows elected officials to keep the community informed about ongoing projects, upcoming events, and other matters of public interest within their districts.

No specific concerns were raised during this reporting period, and the outcome was the successful sharing of information between council members and with the public in attendance.

Mayor's Report

0:00 The council considered the Mayor's Report during the October 17, 2023 meeting. The presentation involved key speakers Gray and Fogle, though the specific content of the mayor's report was not detailed in the available materials.

The council proceeded to vote on the Mayor's Report following the presentation and any discussion that may have occurred. The item was ultimately approved by the council without recorded opposition or significant debate captured in the extracted materials.

The approval of the Mayor's Report represents the council's formal acceptance of the information and updates provided by the mayor's office during this reporting period.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

0:00

Two members of the public addressed the council during the public comment period for issues not on the agenda.

Dotie Bean provided comments regarding council operations, though the specific details of her remarks were not detailed in the available materials.

Emma Anderson spoke about source of income discrimination, addressing concerns related to this housing and civil rights issue.

The public comment period served an informational purpose, allowing community members to bring matters to the council's attention that were not part of the formal meeting agenda. No formal action was taken by the council in response to these comments, as is typical for this portion of meetings.