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Council Work Session

January 16, 2024 · 24,959 words

Watch the official video · Markdown version · Full transcript (text) · Agenda (PDF)

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on January 16, 2024, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at the Urban County Government Center in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The council addressed three agenda items during the session, including a public comment period for issues on the agenda, budget amendments, and a presentation on the Complete Streets Action Plan. The council took five motions and votes during the meeting and heard one public comment. Budget amendments were approved by the council, while the public comment period and Complete Streets Action Plan presentation were informational in nature.

Attendance

Present: J. Brown, Ellinger II, Fogle, Lynch, LeGris, Monarrez, Sheehan, Gray, Worley, F. Brown, Baxter, Sevigny, Reynolds, Plomin

Absent: Vice Mayor Wu, Councilmember Worley

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The following motions were voted on and passed unanimously during the meeting:

Approve the December 5, Council Meeting Docket (as amended) - Motion by: Ellinger - Second by: Sheehan - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Place on the docket a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute agreements related to Neighborhood Development Funds - Motion by: Reynolds - Second by: Sheehan - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Approve budget amendments - Motion by: Plomin - Second by: Gray - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Approve New Business - Motion by: Plomin - Second by: Sheehan - Outcome: Passed unanimously

Approve the Mayor's Report - Motion by: Fogle - Second by: Gray - Outcome: Passed unanimously

All five motions were approved by unanimous vote with no dissenting votes or abstentions recorded.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included authorization for two financial actions:

CPS HR Consulting Contract

The body authorized initiation of Statement of Work (SOW) number 7 with CPS HR Consulting for an amount of $149,250 (Resolution L0005-24). This contract covers promotional processes for Fire Lieutenants, Fire Captains, and Fire Majors positions.

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Grant

The body authorized acceptance of grant funds totaling $164,664.46 from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (Resolution L0022-24). These funds support the continuation of the Litter Abatement Grant Funding Program.

Public Comment

Catherine Perkins addressed the meeting at 5:41 to request a public hearing for PLNMAR 2300018. Ms. Perkins expressed her support for this matter.

Contested Items

Public Hearing for Zoning Change

A disagreement arose regarding whether to hold a public hearing for a proposed zoning change. The contested issue centered on community opposition to the zoning modification, with some council members advocating for the public hearing in response to requests from community members. The discussion reflected differing views on how to proceed with the zoning proposal and the appropriate level of public input before any decision could be made.

The outcome of this disagreement was not specified in the available meeting records.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

5:08

During this portion of the meeting, members of the public were invited to comment on items listed on the agenda.

Catherine Perkins spoke during public comment, expressing support for holding a public hearing regarding a zoning matter.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational in nature.

Budget Amendments

The council discussed and approved various budget amendments during the meeting. The amendments included reallocations and grant acceptances.

Key speakers on this agenda item were Plomin and Gray. The council voted to approve the budget amendments.

Complete Streets Action Plan

Brandy and Kenzie from Planning presented the Complete Streets Action Plan to the council 1:10:42. The presentation outlined steps for making streets in Lexington safer and more accessible.

This was an informational presentation with no formal vote or decision required. The presenters discussed the action plan's approach to street design and accessibility improvements across the city, though specific details about individual proposals, concerns raised during discussion, or next steps are not available from the meeting record.

Decisions

  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve the Thursday, January 18, 2024 Council Meeting Docket
  • Motion — passed (13-2): place on the January 18, 2024 Council Meeting docket, item 1, an Ordinance changing the zone from a Highway Service Business (B-3) zone and Single Family Residential (R-1B) zone to a Medium Density Residential (R-4) zone, for 5.24 net (7.71 gross) acres for properties located at 2200 Old Paris Road and 2324 Paris Pike with a public hearing to be heard on February 13th at 5pm
  • Motion — passed (0-0): place on the January 18, 2024 Council Meeting docket, without a public hearing, item 4, an Ordinance changing the zone from an Agricultural Urban (A-U) Zone to Planned Neighborhood Residential (R-3) Zone, for 13.075 net (15.479 gross) acres, for property located at 5447 Tates Creek Rd
  • Motion — passed (0-0): place on the January 18, 2024 Council Meeting docket, without a public hearing, item 2, an Ordinance changing the zone from a Professional Office (P-1) Zone to Neighborhood Business (B-1) Zone, for .6130 net (1.04 gross) acres, for property located at 1617 Clays Mill Rd
  • Motion — passed (9-5): place on the January 18, 2024 Council Meeting docket, without a public hearing, item 5, an Ordinance changing the zone from a Medium Density Residential (R-4) Zone to a Downtown Frame Business (B-2a) Zone, for 2.143 net (2.633 gross) acres, for property located at 201, 207, 209, 211, 215, 221, 225, 227, 231 and 235 East Maxwell St. and 245, 247 and 251 Stone Ave
  • Motion — passed (0-0): place on the January 18, 2024 Council Meeting docket, without a public hearing, item 3, an Ordinance changing the zone from a Mixed Low Density Residential (R-2) Zone to a Neighborhood Business (B-1) Zone, for 0.15 net (0.17 gross) acres, for property located at 760 and 762 Florence Avenue
  • Motion — passed (1-11): remove item 6 and refer to the General Government and Planning Committee, an Ordinance amending the Lexington-Fayette County Zoning Ordinance as follows: amending Articles 1-11; 3-6; 8-11(b), (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (m), and (o); 8-13(d), (f), (g), (h), (m) and (o); 8-14(d), (g), (h), (i) and (m); 8-16(b), (c), (d), (e), (h), (m), and (o); 8- 20(b), (c), (d), (e), (h), (j), (k), and (l); 9-1; 9-2; 9-3; 9-6; 12-3(g); and 17-11(d) and (g); and further amending and creating Articles 8-20(o)(3), 8-25, 9-8, and 12-3(i) of the Zoning Ordinance to modernize the R-2, R-4 and R-5 zones, provide clear delineation between the B-1 and B-3 zones, create a new Corridor Node zone and propose density bonuses for affordable housing
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve the December 5, 2023 Table of Motions Work Session summary
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve Budget Amendments
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve New Business
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve Council Capital Projects, January 16, 2024
  • Motion — passed (0-0): refer Theme A: equity policies 1 and 2 – continuing education to General Government & Planning Committee
  • Motion — passed (0-0): refer Office Conversions to General Government & Planning Committee
  • Motion — passed (0-0): refer Two-way Street Conversions to General Government & Planning Committee
  • Motion — passed (0-0): refer the naturalization plan, Bring Back the Bluegrass to the General Government & Planning Committee
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve the Mayor's Report
  • Motion — passed (0-0): approve the Mayor's Report – Price Contract Bid Recommendations
  • Motion — passed (0-0): adjourn at 5:39 pm