Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on April 30, 2024, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed two primary agenda items: an informational presentation of the International Firefighters Day Proclamation and consideration of the Lexington Fayette County Parking Authority's proposed FY 2025 budget, which was approved by the council. During the session, council members conducted eight separate votes on various matters before the body. The meeting also included one public comment period, allowing community members to address the council on issues of concern.

Attendance

All council members were present for the April 30, 2024 meeting.

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

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with all 16 members present at the start of the session.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted eight votes during the April 30, 2024 meeting, all by voice vote with varying levels of support.

Agenda Modifications Vice Mayor Wu motioned to add a presentation for International Firefighters Day to the agenda, seconded by Council Member Reynolds. The motion passed unanimously. 0:30

Administrative Approvals Council Member Ellinger moved to approve the summary from the April 23, 2024 work session, with Council Member Fogle providing the second. The motion passed by voice vote. 6:00

Council Member Baxter motioned to approve new business items, seconded by Council Member LeGris. This motion also passed unanimously. 8:00

Budget and Development Items The council approved Neighborhood Development Funds with an amendment on a motion by Council Member Gray, seconded by Council Member Reynolds. While the motion passed, there were 2 abstentions recorded. 18:00

Vice Mayor Wu moved to approve Council Capital Projects, with Council Member Ellinger seconding. The motion passed without opposition. 22:00

Council Member James Brown motioned to approve the proposed FY 2025 budget of the Lexington Fayette County Parking Authority, seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The budget approval passed by voice vote. 1:50:00

Executive Session and Major Decision Vice Mayor Wu moved to enter closed session for possible acquisition of real property, with Council Member Gray seconding. The motion passed unanimously. 3:00:00

The most contentious vote involved rejecting all proposals for RFP number 48-2023 regarding downtown city hall development. Vice Mayor Wu made the motion, seconded by Council Member Fogle. The motion passed with one dissenting vote. 3:10:00

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed eight financial items totaling $526,589.80 in expenditures and grant funding.

Contract Amendments and Modifications: • Resolution L0378-24 authorized a Second Amendment to the Agreement with Mahan Multimedia, LLC for $51,000 • Resolution L0407-24 approved an Amendment to an Agreement with Community Action Council for $41,500 • Resolution L0440-24 authorized Change Order No. 2 with Element Design for additional professional services totaling $71,250 • Resolution L0449-24 approved Contract Modification No. 1 with Strand Associates Inc. for $12,658

New Contracts and Purchases: • Resolution L0430-24 authorized accepting a quotation from Steelcase to purchase four new work stations for $10,479.58 • Resolution L0450-24 approved executing a Professional Services Agreement with Eva Harrison for $72,167 • Resolution L0456-24 authorized an agreement with Rozzi's for a fireworks display costing $23,000

Grant Funding: • Resolution L0457-24 authorized accepting an award of federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) totaling $244,535.22

The largest single expenditure was the Professional Services Agreement with Eva Harrison at $72,167, followed closely by the Element Design change order at $71,250. The FEMA grant represents the largest financial item overall, providing nearly a quarter million dollars in federal funding. Combined contract amendments and modifications totaled $176,408, while new purchases and contracts amounted to $105,646.58.

Public Comment

5:00 The meeting included a designated period for public comment on agenda items. However, no members of the public had signed up to provide comments on any of the issues scheduled for discussion during the meeting.

The absence of public speakers during this portion of the meeting meant that the board proceeded directly to other agenda items without receiving input from community members on the matters at hand.

Contested Items

The April 30, 2024 meeting featured two significant contested items that generated debate among council members and community stakeholders.

Parking Rate Increases

The proposed parking rate increases faced community opposition during the meeting. Concerns were raised about the potential impact these increases would have on parking users throughout the city. Critics highlighted the need for improved communication and more robust public engagement before implementing such changes. The nature of the opposition centered on both the financial burden the increases would place on residents and visitors, as well as the process by which the rate changes were being considered. Community members expressed frustration with what they perceived as insufficient outreach and consultation prior to the proposal reaching the council agenda.

Downtown City Hall Development RFP Rejection

A more divisive issue emerged when the council considered proposals for the downtown city hall development Request for Proposals (RFP). After deliberation, the council voted to reject all submitted proposals for the project. This decision was not unanimous, with one council member casting a dissenting vote against the rejection. The split vote indicates significant disagreement among council members regarding either the quality of the submitted proposals, the project's direction, or the decision-making process itself.

The rejection of all RFP proposals represents a significant setback for the downtown city hall development project, potentially requiring the city to restart the procurement process or reconsider the project's scope and requirements. The lone dissenting vote suggests at least one council member believed one or more of the proposals had merit and should have been accepted or given further consideration.

Both contested items highlight ongoing challenges in municipal governance, from community engagement in policy decisions to complex development projects that require council consensus.

International Firefighters Day Proclamation

1:00

Mayor Linda Gorton presented a proclamation declaring May 4, 2024, as International Firefighters Day in recognition of the sacrifices and contributions made by firefighters in service to their communities.

The proclamation honored firefighters for their dedication to protecting lives and property, acknowledging the risks they face in the line of duty. Mayor Gorton read the formal declaration, which highlighted the important role firefighters play in emergency response and community safety.

Chief Wells was present during the proclamation reading, representing the local fire department. The proclamation served as an informational item to formally recognize the upcoming International Firefighters Day and express the city's appreciation for firefighter service.

This was a ceremonial agenda item with no debate or discussion required, as proclamations are typically presented as formal acknowledgments of important dates or causes. The proclamation will officially designate May 4, 2024, as International Firefighters Day within the city's jurisdiction.

Lexington Fayette County Parking Authority Proposed FY 2025 Budget

1:30:00 Jim Fraser and Laura Boyson presented the proposed FY 2025 budget for the Lexington Fayette County Parking Authority during the meeting. The presentation focused on the authority's financial needs for the upcoming fiscal year and outlined necessary changes to maintain and improve existing parking facilities throughout the city.

The key component of the budget proposal centered on the need for rate increases across the parking system. Fraser and Boyson explained that these rate adjustments would be essential to generate sufficient revenue to cover operational costs and fund necessary improvements to parking infrastructure.

The presenters detailed how the proposed budget would address ongoing maintenance requirements for current parking facilities while also supporting enhancements to better serve the community's parking needs. The budget presentation included financial projections and outlined the authority's strategic approach to balancing service quality with fiscal responsibility.

Following the presentation and discussion, the proposed FY 2025 budget for the Lexington Fayette County Parking Authority was approved by the meeting participants. The approval enables the authority to move forward with implementing the budget, including the proposed rate increases, for the upcoming fiscal year.

The budget approval represents a significant step in the parking authority's efforts to maintain adequate funding for operations while continuing to provide essential parking services to the Lexington-Fayette County community.