Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on March 12, 2024, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Vice Mayor Wu presiding. The council addressed six agenda items during the session, including routine business matters and opportunities for public input.

The meeting included both procedural and substantive business, with council members taking three recorded votes throughout the proceedings. One member of the public provided comments during the designated public comment periods. The council successfully approved the summary from their March 5, 2024 meeting and addressed new business items, while also receiving informational presentations and council reports that did not require formal voting action.

Attendance

The following members were present at the March 12, 2024 meeting:

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

All 15 members were in attendance with no absences or late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

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

Approval of March 5, 2024 Work Session Summary 0:30 Ellinger II motioned to approve the March 5, 2024 Work Session Summary, with Gray providing the second. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Approval of New Business 10:00 Coleman made a motion to approve new business items, seconded by Gray. This procedural motion passed by voice vote without recorded opposition.

Lex Grow Trees Grant Program Docket Placement 20:00 Sheehan motioned to place the Lex Grow Trees Grant Program on the March 21, 2024 Council Meeting docket, with LeGris seconding the motion. The motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

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

Budget and Financial Actions

The council approved several significant financial items totaling over $640,000 in contracts, grants, and donations during the March 12, 2024 meeting.

Major Contracts and Agreements: • Resolution L0235-24 authorized a $305,373.60 FY 2024 Storm Water Quality Projects Incentive Grant to Wesley United Methodist Church of Lexington, Kentucky, Inc. • Resolution L0243-24 approved a $128,200 Engineering Service Agreement with Third Rock Consultants for Wolf Run Watershed Water Quality Improvements • Resolution L0244-24 authorized a $100,000 Engineering Service Agreement with Palmer Engineering for Wolf Run Watershed Management Plan Update • Resolution L0260-24 approved a $16,059 Engineering Service Agreement with Stantec for the Armstrong Mill Shared Use Path project

Aviation Services: • Resolution L0254-24 authorized a Space Permit with Signature Flight Air Inc. for aircraft storage and office rental at $2,333.02 per month • Resolution L0255-24 approved the purchase of Jet A Aviation Fuel for the Police Helicopter from Signature Flight Air Inc. at a discounted rate of $1.10 per gallon

Donations and Grants: • Resolution L0226-24 accepted an $80,000 donation of 3M SCOTT air packs and associated equipment to various agencies • Resolution L0259-24 accepted an $11,399.99 donation of various items from CPAAA to the Lexington Police Department • Resolution L0262-24 accepted a $1,000 grant from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund for the Division of Environmental Services' Reforest the Bluegrass 2024 program

The approved items demonstrate significant investment in environmental projects, public safety equipment, and infrastructure improvements across multiple city departments.

Public Comment

The public comment period featured one speaker addressing the council.

Rick Day spoke regarding reallocations and the MAG study 120:00. Day criticized the council for passing reallocations and the MAG study without what he characterized as sufficient scrutiny. He suggested that previous councils would not have accepted such recommendations, implying that the current council's review process was inadequate compared to past practices.

Day's comments focused specifically on the council's decision-making process and the level of analysis applied to these particular agenda items, expressing concern that the recommendations were approved without proper examination.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:10

No members of the public came forward to provide comments on issues included on the meeting agenda during this portion of the meeting. The public comment period for agenda items was opened and closed without any speakers.

Approval of Summary - March 5, 2024

0:30

The council considered approval of the summary from their March 5, 2024 work session. Council members Ellinger II and Gray participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The summary was presented for formal approval as part of the meeting's routine business. The March 5, 2024 work session summary was approved by the council without significant debate or concerns raised during the discussion.

Outcome: Approved

New Business

10:00

The council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting, with Chief Wells and Council Member Reynolds serving as the primary speakers for the discussion.

The agenda covered multiple topics related to donations and contracts, specifically focusing on public safety and environmental services. Chief Wells presented information regarding public safety matters, while Council Member Reynolds contributed to the discussion on various contractual arrangements.

The council reviewed proposed contracts for environmental services, examining the terms and scope of work involved. Additionally, the discussion included consideration of donations that would benefit city operations and services.

Throughout the deliberations, council members evaluated the financial implications and operational benefits of the proposed items. The discussion encompassed both the immediate needs of the community and long-term planning considerations for public safety and environmental initiatives.

Following the presentations and council discussion, all new business items presented during this session were approved. The approval indicates the council's consensus on moving forward with the proposed donations and contracts for public safety and environmental services.

The outcome demonstrates the council's commitment to enhancing city services through strategic partnerships and resource allocation. The approved items will contribute to the city's ongoing efforts to maintain and improve public safety operations and environmental service delivery to residents.

Continuing Business/Presentations

20:00

Council Member Sheehan provided a report on recent discussions from the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee during this portion of the meeting.

The committee report covered two primary topics that had been under consideration. First, Council Member Sheehan discussed the committee's examination of microtransit options, though specific details about the scope, implementation timeline, or potential service areas were not detailed in the available information.

Second, the report addressed ongoing discussions regarding odor control measures. The committee had been reviewing this issue, though the specific sources of odor concerns, proposed solutions, or affected areas were not specified in the presentation.

This agenda item served an informational purpose, allowing Council Member Sheehan to update the full council and public on the committee's recent work and deliberations. No formal action was taken on either the microtransit or odor control matters during this report, as these items remained under committee review.

The presentation provided transparency into the committee's ongoing work and kept council members informed about issues being examined at the committee level before potentially advancing to the full council for consideration.

Council Reports

30:00

During the Council Reports segment, several council members provided updates on various community events and initiatives.

Key Speakers: • Council Member James Brown • Council Member Baxter • Council Member Lynch

The council members shared information about ongoing community activities and upcoming events, though specific details of their individual reports were not provided in the available materials. This agenda item served an informational purpose, allowing council members to keep their colleagues and the public informed about various municipal activities and community engagement efforts.

No formal action was taken during this portion of the meeting, as the reports were presented for informational purposes only.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

120:00

Rick Day addressed the council during the public comment period for issues not on the agenda. Day's comments focused on previous council decisions related to reallocations and referenced a MAG study.

The public comment period provided an opportunity for community members to bring matters to the council's attention that were not part of the formal meeting agenda. Day used this time to discuss past council actions, specifically highlighting decisions involving budget or resource reallocations and their connection to findings or recommendations from a MAG (Metropolitan Area Government) study.

This agenda item was informational in nature, allowing for public input without requiring council action or response. The public comment period serves as a regular forum for community engagement and provides residents an opportunity to address the governing body on matters of local concern or interest.