Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on November 28, 2023, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at the Urban County Government Center in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting focused primarily on informational presentations and recognition, with three main agenda items covering a retirement recognition, a community initiative update, and a committee report. The council conducted seven motions and votes during the session and heard from two members of the public during the comment period. All three agenda items were informational in nature, including the retirement recognition of Dewey Crow, an update on the One Lexington 2023 initiative, and a report from the Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee.

Attendance

The meeting on November 28, 2023, had strong attendance from city leadership.

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

Absent: - Councilmember Worley

Late: - None

Fifteen members were present for the meeting, with only one absence recorded. No members arrived late to the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted seven votes during the November 28, 2023 meeting, all of which passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Agenda Modifications and Approvals

Vice Mayor Wu motioned to add a presentation relating to the retirement recognition of the director of building inspection, seconded by Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote 0:10.

Gray motioned to approve the table of motions from November 14, 2023, with Sheehan providing the second. This procedural item passed by voice vote 1:30.

Ellinger motioned to approve new business items, seconded by Gray. The motion carried by voice vote 2:00.

Funding Approvals

The council approved several funding-related items. Fogle motioned to approve Neighborhood Development Funds, with Reynolds seconding the motion. This passed by voice vote 10:00.

Vice Mayor Wu motioned to approve Council Capital Projects, seconded by Plomin. The motion passed by voice vote 11:00.

Sheehan motioned to approve an ordinance amending funding for the Innovative and Sustainable Solutions to Homelessness fund, with Wu providing the second. This funding amendment passed by voice vote 12:00.

Meeting Adjournment

Vice Mayor Wu motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Fogle. The adjournment motion passed by voice vote 180:00.

All votes were conducted by voice vote rather than roll call, with no recorded individual vote tallies, opposition votes, or abstentions for any of the seven motions considered during the meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council addressed eleven financial items totaling over $1 million in expenditures and contract authorizations during the November 28, 2023 meeting.

Major Contracts and Services: • L1191-23: Authorization to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc. for a Leachate Treatment System Improvement Project at Haley Pike Landfill - $859,000 • L1189-23: Authorization to execute an agreement with KFI Engineers for design services associated with HVAC replacement at Police Headquarters - $103,500 • L1157-23: Authorization to establish ProCare Services Stryker as a sole source provider for maintenance services contract renewal for all Stryker EMS stretchers and loading systems - $54,537.19

Community Investment Projects: • L1160-23: Authorization to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with Seedleaf Incorporated for a community garden fencing project using Council Capital Project Expenditure funds - $13,000 • L1158-23: Authorization to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with Community Inspired Lexington, Inc. for a freezer for their community pantry using Council Capital Project Expenditure funds - $2,000

Personnel and Administrative Actions: • L1159-23: Authorization to amend the Unclassified Civil Service authorized strength by abolishing two positions and creating two Police and Fire Pension Benefit Specialist positions - $8,151.99 • L1185-23: Authorization to accept an additional $3,675 in federal funds while reducing state funds by $6,081 from Amendment No. 2 grant agreement with the Bluegrass Area Development District

Additional Agreements: The council also authorized agreements with no specified dollar amounts, including contracts with Ravens Youth Football Organization (L1174-23), Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. for administrative services renewal (L1181-23), Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Military Affairs Division of Emergency Management (L1186-23), and the United States Secret Service (L1190-23).

Public Comment

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

Dotty Bean spoke about short-term rental regulations 175:00. Bean emphasized the critical importance of thoroughly communicating the new short-term rental regulations to the public before they take effect on January 11th. She stressed that proper public outreach and education would be essential for successful implementation of the new rules.

Rick Day addressed the council's oversight responsibilities 177:00. Day criticized the council for not adequately questioning administrative recommendations, particularly regarding compensation issues. He urged council members to take a more active role in representing the public interest rather than simply accepting staff recommendations without thorough scrutiny.

Both speakers focused on governance and communication issues, with Bean highlighting the need for better public outreach regarding upcoming regulatory changes, while Day called for increased council oversight of administrative decisions.

Retirement Recognition of Dewey Crow

5:00

The meeting included a special recognition ceremony honoring Dewey Crow for his distinguished 36-year career in public service. Mayor Linda Gorton presented a proclamation officially declaring November 28th, 2023 as "Dewey Crow Day" in recognition of his dedicated service to the community.

Crow served as Director of Building Inspection during his tenure, playing a key role in ensuring construction safety and code compliance throughout the jurisdiction. His 36 years of service represents more than three decades of commitment to public safety and municipal operations.

The recognition took the form of a formal proclamation, which serves as an official acknowledgment of Crow's contributions to the community. Mayor Gorton presented the proclamation during the meeting, with Dewey Crow in attendance to receive the honor.

This agenda item was informational in nature, serving as a ceremonial recognition rather than requiring any formal action or vote by the governing body. The proclamation represents the community's appreciation for Crow's long-standing service in building inspection and his role in maintaining public safety standards through proper code enforcement and inspection procedures.

The retirement recognition reflects the standard practice of honoring long-serving public employees who have made significant contributions to municipal operations and community welfare throughout their careers.

One Lexington 2023 Update

20:00 The One Lexington team presented updates on their community initiatives during the November 28, 2023 meeting. Key speakers included Davyne and Kenneth Payne, who outlined several ongoing programs and partnerships.

The presentation covered three main areas of focus for One Lexington's 2023 efforts:

• Trauma-informed care support - The organization has been working to provide specialized assistance to community members dealing with trauma-related issues

• Crisis response adjustments - One Lexington has made modifications to their crisis response protocols and procedures to better serve the community's needs

• Faith-based partnerships - The team highlighted new collaborations with religious organizations specifically aimed at supporting victims of gun violence

Kenneth Payne and Davyne provided details on how these initiatives have been implemented throughout 2023 and their impact on the community. The faith-based partnerships represent a significant expansion of One Lexington's support network, leveraging existing community relationships to reach those affected by gun violence.

The trauma-informed care component reflects the organization's commitment to addressing the underlying psychological impacts of violence and crisis situations in the community. Meanwhile, the crisis response adjustments demonstrate One Lexington's adaptive approach to meeting evolving community needs.

This was an informational presentation with no formal action items or decisions required from the meeting participants. The update served to keep stakeholders informed about One Lexington's progress and current programming as they continue their community-focused work.

Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee Report

12:00

Councilmember James Brown presented the Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee report to the council. Brown reported on the committee's recent meeting activities and decisions.

The primary item discussed was the committee's approval of an ordinance to increase funding for homelessness prevention programs. Brown provided details on this funding increase, though the specific dollar amount and funding source were not detailed in the available materials.

The committee report was presented for informational purposes, with no action required from the full council at this time. The approved ordinance regarding homelessness prevention funding will presumably move forward through the legislative process following the committee's recommendation.

No other committee business or agenda items were mentioned in Brown's report to the council.