Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on February 6, 2024, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed four agenda items, including public comment opportunities, approval of meeting summaries, new business, and continuing business with presentations. Council members conducted three votes during the session, approving both the meeting summary and new business items, while also receiving informational presentations. One member of the public provided comments on agenda issues during the designated public comment period.

Attendance

The following members were present at the February 6, 2024 meeting:

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

Absent: • Tayna Fogle

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 15 members were present with 1 member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included three motions, all of which passed by voice vote.

Approval of January 30, 2024 Work Session Summary 0:30 Wu made a motion to approve the January 30, 2024 Work Session Summary, which was seconded by LeGris. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Approval of New Business 2:00 Wu moved to approve new business items, with Ellinger II providing the second. This motion also passed by voice vote without recorded opposition.

Adjournment 3:55 Plomin made the motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Gray. The adjournment motion passed by voice vote.

All three votes were conducted as voice votes rather than roll call votes, so individual member positions were not recorded. No conditions or amendments were attached to any of the motions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed multiple financial items totaling over $2.5 million in contracts, grants, and project amendments.

Major Contracts and Services: • Resolution L0132-24 approved a $550,000 contract with Webster Environmental Associates for design and construction management of targeted equipment for odor control • Resolution L0117-24 authorized the first renewal of a $900,000 contract with Hazen and Sawyer for Sanitary Sewer Remedial Measures Plan Program Management Consulting Services • Resolution L0131-24 approved a $172,187 agreement with Palmer Engineering for Wilson Downing Intersection Improvements

Stormwater Quality Grants: The council approved three Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grants: • Resolution L0106-24: $99,860.38 grant to Ashwood Townhouses of Laredo, Inc. • Resolution L0108-24: $127,050.00 grant to Beaver Creek Hydrology, LLC • Resolution L0109-24: $212,932.00 grant to Lakeshore Village, Inc.

Project Amendments: Two amendments were approved for the Black & Williams Neighborhood Community Center Gymnasium Improvements Project: • Resolution L0113-24: $20,000 amendment to consultant services agreement with Johnson Early Architects • Resolution L0115-24: Change Order #02 for $153,232.49 with Omni Commercial, LLC

Additional Items: • Resolution L0116-24 addressed the merger of Summit Biosciences with Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P., though no monetary amount was specified • Resolution L0130-24 approved Supplemental Agreement No. 1 for $356,000 with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the Liberty Road Improvements Project

The financial actions encompassed infrastructure improvements, environmental projects, and facility upgrades across multiple city departments and initiatives.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one resident addressed the council regarding proposed zoning changes.

Katharine Perkins spoke about the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments under consideration 3:00. Perkins raised concerns about the complexity of the proposed zoning ordinance text amendments, questioning whether the language would be easily interpretable for both residents and city officials. She emphasized the critical importance of maintaining the council's authority and decision-making power in zoning matters, suggesting that the proposed amendments should not diminish the council's role in overseeing zoning decisions that affect the community.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:10

During the public comment period for issues on the agenda, no members of the public came forward to address the board or council. The meeting proceeded without any public input on the agenda items scheduled for discussion.

This portion of the meeting was reserved for community members to speak on specific items that were listed on the meeting agenda, providing an opportunity for public participation in the governmental process before official deliberations began on those matters.

Approval of Summary

0:30

The council considered approval of the summary from their January 30, 2024 work session. Council members Wu and LeGris participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The council voted to approve the summary of the January 30, 2024 work session without any recorded objections or concerns raised during the discussion.

Outcome: Approved

New Business

2:00

The council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting, with key participation from council members Wu and Ellinger II.

The discussion centered on various financial and contractual agreements that required council approval. While the specific details of individual items were not provided in the available materials, the agenda item encompassed multiple proposals related to municipal operations and agreements.

Council members Wu and Ellinger II served as the primary speakers during the deliberations on these new business matters. The discussion appeared to focus on the financial and contractual implications of the proposed items before the council.

Following the presentation and discussion of the new business items, the council moved to approve the measures. The outcome was positive, with the council voting to approve the new business items as presented.

The approval of these new business items represents the council's ongoing work to address various municipal needs through financial commitments and contractual arrangements necessary for city operations.

Continuing Business/Presentations

2:30

Council member Sheehan delivered a report on the Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee meeting that took place on December 5, 2023. The presentation served as an informational update to bring the full council up to date on the committee's recent activities and discussions.

The report was presented as continuing business, indicating this was a follow-up item from previous council proceedings. Sheehan's presentation provided council members with details from the Environmental Quality & Public Works Committee's December meeting, though the specific topics covered in that committee meeting were not detailed in the available materials.

This agenda item was classified as informational in nature, meaning no formal action or voting was required from the council. The presentation allowed for the sharing of committee work with the broader council body, maintaining transparency and coordination between the committee structure and full council operations.