Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on October 31, 2023, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Urban County Government Center in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed four agenda items, including budget amendments and new business matters that required council action. During the session, the council conducted four formal votes and heard three public comments from citizens regarding items on the agenda. The meeting also featured an informational presentation on the Fayette County Clerk Election Update, providing council members and the public with important updates on local election matters. Overall, the council successfully approved budget amendments and new business items while maintaining opportunities for public input and receiving key informational briefings.

Attendance

All council members were present for the October 31, 2023 meeting.

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

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with all 16 council members participating from the start of the session.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted four unanimous votes during the October 31, 2023 meeting, all passing without opposition.

Approval of October 26, 2023 Council Meeting Docket 0:00 Council member Wu made a motion to approve the October 26, 2023 Council Meeting Docket, which was seconded by Plomin. The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of October 17, 2023 Work Session Summary 0:00 Ellinger moved to approve the October 17, 2023 Work Session summary, with Fogle providing the second. The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Budget Amendments 0:00 Plomin made a motion to approve budget amendments, seconded by Wu. The council voted unanimously to approve the budget amendments.

Approval of New Business 0:00 Baxter moved to approve new business items, with Reynolds seconding the motion. This motion also passed unanimously.

All four votes were conducted as voice votes with unanimous consent, with no recorded individual vote tallies, opposition votes, or abstentions. The council demonstrated consensus across all agenda items requiring formal approval during this meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several significant financial items totaling over $3.4 million in contracts, agreements, and grant acceptance.

Contract Modifications and New Agreements:

• L1078-23: The council approved a $20,000 increase to the existing contract with Mackey Group, LLC for media placement services.

• L1098-23: A major Economic Incentive Agreement with Keeneland Association, Inc. was approved for $1,000,000.

• L1104-23: An identical $1,000,000 Economic Incentive Agreement was approved with LSC Stadium Company, LLC.

• L1109-23: The council authorized Addendum No. 1 to the existing agreement with University of Kentucky Research Foundation, adding $99,997 to the contract value.

Grant Acceptance:

• L1112-23: The Division of Fire and Emergency Services received approval to accept a substantial $1,300,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-based Program. This federal grant represents the largest single financial item addressed during the meeting.

The two Economic Incentive Agreements with Keeneland Association, Inc. and LSC Stadium Company, LLC each valued at $1,000,000 suggest significant economic development initiatives, while the federal grant acceptance demonstrates the city's commitment to addressing substance abuse issues through emergency services programming. The University of Kentucky Research Foundation addendum indicates ongoing research partnerships, and the media placement contract increase with Mackey Group, LLC reflects continued public communications efforts.

Public Comment

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

Dotie Bean spoke first, expressing appreciation for the council's transparency in their work. She encouraged council members to continue asking questions about how taxpayer money is being spent on various council projects.

Vince Gabert appeared before the council regarding the Lexington Sporting Club project. Rather than delivering prepared remarks, Gabert indicated he was available to answer any questions the council might have about the project.

Jessica Winters had signed up to speak about a zoning matter but discovered upon arriving that the item was not included on the meeting agenda. She did not proceed with her planned comments.

The public comment period was brief, with speakers focusing on council transparency and project oversight, while one planned speaker was unable to address their intended topic due to agenda scheduling.

Contested Items

The meeting included one procedural dispute regarding the scheduling of an upcoming zoning hearing.

Scheduling of Zoning Hearing

A disagreement arose over the timing of a proposed zoning hearing, with the primary concern centered on ensuring adequate attendance to maintain a quorum. The discussion focused on procedural requirements and the practical challenges of coordinating schedules among the necessary participants.

The nature of the dispute was procedural rather than substantive, dealing with administrative logistics rather than the merits of any particular zoning matter. Participants expressed concerns about the proposed timing and its potential impact on meeting the quorum requirements necessary for the hearing to proceed.

The extracted data does not specify which individuals were involved in this scheduling dispute or provide details about the final resolution. No transcript timestamps were available to reference specific portions of the discussion.

This procedural disagreement represents the only contested item identified during the October 31, 2023 meeting, suggesting that other agenda items proceeded without significant opposition or debate.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00

During the public comment period for agenda items, three community members addressed the council regarding various municipal matters.

Speakers: • Dotie Bean • Vince Gabert • Jessica Winters

The public comments focused on issues related to current council projects and zoning matters that were scheduled for discussion during the meeting. Community members used this opportunity to provide input and raise concerns about agenda items before the council's formal deliberations.

This portion of the meeting served an informational purpose, allowing residents to voice their perspectives on matters that would be considered later in the session. The public comment period provides a structured opportunity for community engagement in the municipal decision-making process.

No formal action was taken during this segment, as it was designated for public input only. The comments received would be available for the council's consideration during their subsequent discussions of the relevant agenda items.

Budget Amendments

0:00

The council reviewed and approved various budget amendments for the current fiscal year during this agenda item. The discussion was led by Council Member Worley and Vice Mayor Wu, who presented the proposed changes to the municipal budget.

The amendments addressed adjustments needed for the fiscal year, though the specific details of the individual budget line items and dollar amounts were not detailed in the available materials. Council Member Worley and Vice Mayor Wu guided the discussion of these financial modifications.

The council ultimately approved the budget amendments as presented. No significant concerns or opposition were noted during the deliberation process, and the item proceeded to approval without extended debate.

The budget amendments represent routine fiscal adjustments that municipalities typically make during the course of a fiscal year to address changing needs and circumstances in various departments and programs.

New Business

0:00

The council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting, with Council Member Baxter and Council Member Ellinger serving as key participants in the discussion.

The new business segment focused on approving various contracts and agreements that were characterized as relating to infrastructure projects and economic incentive programs. The items were presented as resolutions requiring council approval.

Council Member Baxter and Council Member Ellinger participated in the discussion of these business items, though the specific details of their comments and any debate that occurred are not detailed in the available materials.

The council ultimately approved the new business items that were presented. The approval encompassed the contracts and agreements related to both infrastructure development and economic incentives that had been brought before the council for consideration.

The outcome of this agenda item was recorded as approved, indicating that the necessary votes were secured to move forward with the proposed contracts and agreements.

Presentation: Fayette County Clerk Election Update

0:00 Susan Lamb, Fayette County Clerk, presented an update on the upcoming general election and early voting opportunities to the meeting attendees.

The presentation served as an informational briefing to keep officials and the public informed about election preparations and voting procedures. As the County Clerk, Lamb provided details about the electoral process and early voting options available to Fayette County residents.

This agenda item was structured as a presentation format, allowing Lamb to share important election-related information without requiring formal action or voting by the meeting body. The update covered logistical aspects of the upcoming general election, ensuring that relevant stakeholders were aware of current election preparations and voter services.

The presentation concluded as an informational item, with no formal decisions or resolutions required from the meeting participants.