Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on April 11, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed three agenda items, all of which were approved by the council. The session included proclamations recognizing Teresa Rakes Day and Paula Singer Day, as well as consideration of a zone change request for 610 Winchester Road. During the meeting, the council took three votes and heard from three members of the public during the public comment period.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on April 11, 2024:

• Ellinger
• Elliott Baxter
• Fogle
• Gray
• LeGris
• Lynch
• Monarrez
• Plomin
• Reynolds
• Sevigny
• Sheehan
• Worley
• Wu
• F. Brown

Absent: • J. Brown

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 14 members were present with 1 member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on three items during the April 11, 2024 meeting, with all measures passing by wide margins.

Ordinance 0283-24 1:30 - Councilmember Ellinger motioned to approve an ordinance changing the zoning from Light Industrial (I-1) to Downtown Frame Business (B-2A) for property located at 610 Winchester Road. Elliott Baxter seconded the motion. The measure passed unanimously on a roll call vote with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, and F. Brown.

Resolution 0330-24 2:30 - Wu made a motion to accept the bid from Innovative Demolition Service, LLC for the Pleasant Ridge Park Dog Lot Expansion project. Elliott Baxter provided the second. The resolution passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays on a roll call vote. The same 14 council members who supported the previous measure voted in favor of this resolution.

Resolution 0316-24 3:30 - Lynch motioned to authorize the Mayor to execute a Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions for the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, with Wu seconding the motion. This resolution passed with 13 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention. The following council members voted in favor: Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Worley, Wu, and F. Brown. One council member abstained from voting, though the specific member who abstained was not identified in the available data.

All three measures received strong support from the council, with no opposition votes recorded on any item.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial items totaling over $1.5 million in expenditures and grant funding.

Pleasant Ridge Park Dog Lot Expansion Contract The council approved Resolution 0330-24, authorizing a contract with Innovative Demolition Service, LLC for $47,275 to expand the dog lot at Pleasant Ridge Park. This project will enhance recreational facilities for pet owners in the community.

Water Quality Improvement Grant Resolution 0348-24 was approved for the West Hickman Creek/Veterans Park Water Quality Improvement Project, securing $1,345,000 in grant funding. This substantial environmental initiative represents the largest financial item discussed during the meeting and will address water quality concerns in the specified creek and park areas.

Police Equipment Purchase The council authorized Resolution 0350-24 for the purchase of police bomb suits from MED-ENG, LLC at a cost of $134,624. This public safety equipment acquisition will enhance the police department's capacity to respond to explosive device threats and ensure officer protection during high-risk operations.

These three financial actions demonstrate the city's commitment to diverse municipal priorities, including parks and recreation improvements, environmental protection, and public safety equipment upgrades. The combined financial impact totals $1,526,899, with the majority consisting of grant funding for the water quality project.

Public Comment

Three residents addressed the council regarding the Flock camera system during the public comment period.

Billie Mallory 10:00 spoke in support of the Flock cameras, emphasizing their importance for neighborhood safety. Mallory highlighted the need for safe neighborhoods to benefit both businesses and residents in the community.

Reva Russell English 12:00 expressed opposition to the Flock camera program, raising significant concerns about privacy and data usage. English urged the council to vote against extending the contract with Flock until an independent audit could be conducted to examine the system's operations and data handling practices.

Andrew Russell English 14:00 called for greater accountability and transparency in the Flock camera program. English recommended that the council thoroughly evaluate the system's effectiveness and operations before making any decision to renew the contract.

The public comments revealed a clear divide among residents regarding the Flock camera system, with supporters emphasizing safety benefits while opponents focused on privacy concerns and the need for independent oversight. The common thread among those with concerns was the call for more thorough evaluation and accountability measures before any contract extension.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments and reappointments to various city boards and committees.

Access Lexington Commission • Ryan Guyder was reappointed to the Access Lexington Commission

Administrative Hearing Board • Joseph Buckles was reappointed to the Administrative Hearing Board

Animal Care and Control Advisory Committee • Jeremy Brislin was appointed to the Animal Care and Control Advisory Committee

These appointments represent the city's ongoing efforts to maintain active participation on various advisory bodies and commissions that support municipal operations and community services.

Contested Items

The primary contested item during the April 11, 2024 meeting centered on Flock cameras and their contract extension.

Flock Cameras Contract Extension

Several community members voiced strong opposition to the proposed Flock camera contract extension, raising significant concerns about privacy implications and data usage practices. The residents who spoke during public comment urged the council to reconsider moving forward with the contract renewal.

The opposition focused specifically on: - Privacy concerns regarding surveillance capabilities - Questions about how collected data would be used and stored - Broader implications for community surveillance

Community members requested that the council take more time to evaluate the privacy implications before proceeding with the contract extension. The residents emphasized their desire for the council to thoroughly reconsider the proposal rather than approve it as presented.

The outcome of this contested item was not specified in the available meeting data, though the community opposition was clearly documented as a significant point of contention during the proceedings.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this meeting summary.*

Teresa Rakes Day

0:30

Mayor Gorton presented Proclamation 0190-24 declaring April 11, 2024, as Teresa Rakes Day in the city. The proclamation recognized Teresa Rakes for her dedicated efforts to keep the Greater Cardinal Valley area clean through her community service work.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton highlighted Rakes' contributions to maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of the Greater Cardinal Valley area. Teresa Rakes was present at the meeting to receive the recognition.

Reynolds also participated in the discussion of this agenda item, though the specific nature of their comments was not detailed in the available materials.

The proclamation was approved without opposition, formally establishing April 11, 2024, as Teresa Rakes Day in recognition of her environmental stewardship and community service efforts in the Greater Cardinal Valley area.

Paula Singer Day

Mayor Gorton presented Proclamation 0191-24 declaring April 11, 2024, as Paula Singer Day in recognition of her significant activism and community contributions 1:00.

The proclamation specifically honored Singer's work with "The Goat Project," highlighting her dedication to community service and advocacy efforts. Mayor Gorton emphasized Singer's positive impact on the local community through her various initiatives and ongoing commitment to civic engagement.

Paula Singer was present to receive the proclamation and spoke briefly about her work and appreciation for the recognition. Reynolds also participated in the discussion, adding remarks about Singer's contributions to the community.

The proclamation was approved without opposition, formally establishing April 11, 2024, as Paula Singer Day in acknowledgment of her activism and community service, particularly her leadership role in The Goat Project initiative.

Zone Change for 610 Winchester Rd.

1:30

The council considered Ordinance 0283-24, which proposed changing the zoning classification for the property at 610 Winchester Road from Light Industrial to Downtown Frame Business.

Ellinger and Elliott Baxter served as the key speakers during the discussion of this zoning change request. The ordinance sought to reclassify the property to allow for different permitted uses under the Downtown Frame Business zoning category.

The council ultimately approved the zone change ordinance, allowing the property at 610 Winchester Road to transition from its previous Light Industrial designation to Downtown Frame Business zoning. This change will enable different types of commercial and business activities to operate at the location under the new zoning classification.