Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government held a meeting on May 9, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed two main agenda items: a recognition ceremony for CASA of Lexington Presidential Service Awards and the approval of Angel Laketa Moore Day. The council took two votes during the session and heard from three members of the public during the comment period. The meeting resulted in the approval of one item while the other served as an informational presentation to recognize community service contributions.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on May 9, 2024:

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

Absent: Elliott Baxter

Late arrivals: None

A total of 14 members were present for the meeting, with one member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting, with contrasting outcomes on zoning-related ordinances.

Ordinance 0414-24 3:00 Vice Mayor Wu motioned to approve an ordinance amending Article 8-16 of the Zoning Ordinance to allow truck and trailer rental and leasing businesses as principal uses in the Neighborhood Business (B-1) zone. Ms. Reynolds seconded the motion. The ordinance failed unanimously with 0 ayes and 14 nays. All council members voted against the measure: Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, and Ellinger.

Ordinance 0415-24 4:00 Ms. Plomin motioned to approve an ordinance changing the zone from Agricultural Rural (A-R) to Light Industrial (I-1) for property located at 1120 Alexandria Dr. Ms. Sheehan seconded the motion. The ordinance passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, and Ellinger.

The stark difference in voting patterns between the two zoning ordinances demonstrates the council's unanimous opposition to allowing truck and trailer rental businesses in neighborhood business zones while showing complete support for rezoning the Alexandria Drive property from agricultural to light industrial use.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts totaling $142,873 in municipal expenditures.

Theatrical Equipment Purchase The council considered contract 0338-24 for the purchase of new theatrical lighting equipment for the Lyric Theatre valued at $83,000. This contract represents a substantial investment in the city's cultural infrastructure and performance venue capabilities.

Solar Energy Infrastructure Contract 0394-24 was reviewed for the installation of a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system on Fire Station #22. The contract with Calhoun Construction Services, Inc. is valued at $59,873 and represents the city's continued investment in renewable energy infrastructure for municipal facilities. This solar installation will provide clean energy generation for the fire station operations.

Both contracts demonstrate the city's commitment to enhancing public facilities through infrastructure improvements and cultural amenities. The combined expenditure of $142,873 spans both operational efficiency improvements through renewable energy and community cultural resources through upgraded theatrical equipment.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available in the provided source materials for this meeting.*

Public Comment

Three speakers addressed the council during the public comment period, with all comments focusing on budget-related matters.

Whit Whitaker 1:00 spoke regarding the Mayor's Proposed Budget, specifically advocating for a proposal to allocate funding to combat gun violence. Whitaker emphasized the importance of focusing resources on victims and community engagement as key components of addressing gun violence in the community.

Rick Day 2:00 addressed the council about the compensation system within the urban county government. Day requested that money be allocated specifically to correct inequities that exist in the current compensation structure, highlighting concerns about fair pay practices across government positions.

Brittany Roethemeier 2:30 also commented on the Mayor's Proposed Budget, expressing support for specific investment priorities. Roethemeier advocated for increased investments in affordable housing initiatives and Complete Streets programs. However, she voiced opposition to any expansion of the Urban Service Boundary, indicating concerns about growth management and development patterns.

All three speakers focused their remarks on budgetary allocations and priorities, reflecting community interest in how public funds should be directed toward addressing gun violence, government employee compensation, housing affordability, transportation infrastructure, and managed growth policies.

Appointments

The council took action on three appointments during the May 9, 2024 meeting.

Two new members were appointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs: • Emmanuel Smith was appointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs • Brett Tinch was appointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs

Additionally, one reappointment was made to a local cultural institution: • Stephanie Spires was reappointed to the Lexington Children's Museum Board of Directors

These appointments fill vacant positions on important city boards and commissions that serve the community in various capacities, from supporting veterans' services to overseeing educational and cultural programming for children and families.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split decision among board members.

Zoning Ordinance Amendment

The primary point of contention involved a proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would have allowed truck and trailer rental businesses to operate within the Neighborhood Business zone. Despite being characterized as a "split vote" in the meeting proceedings, the amendment was ultimately disapproved by a unanimous vote of the board.

The disagreement centered on whether commercial truck and trailer rental operations would be appropriate for areas zoned as Neighborhood Business. These zones typically accommodate smaller-scale commercial activities that serve local residents and are designed to be compatible with nearby residential areas.

While the specific arguments made by board members were not detailed in the available records, zoning amendments of this nature often involve concerns about: - Traffic impacts from large commercial vehicles - Noise and operational hours - Visual compatibility with neighborhood character - Parking and storage requirements for rental inventory

The unanimous disapproval suggests that despite initial disagreement or debate among members, the board ultimately reached consensus that truck and trailer rental businesses would not be suitable for the Neighborhood Business zoning classification.

This decision maintains the current zoning restrictions and prevents these types of commercial vehicle rental operations from establishing in Neighborhood Business zones within the jurisdiction.

CASA of Lexington Presidential Service Awards Recognition

0:30

The meeting included a presentation recognizing CASA of Lexington volunteers who received President Joe Biden's Volunteer Service Award for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Mayor Gorton and Melynda Jamison served as the key speakers for this recognition ceremony. The presentation honored CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication in their service to children in the foster care system and court proceedings.

The Presidential Volunteer Service Award is a national recognition program that acknowledges individuals who have contributed significant volunteer service hours to their communities. The CASA volunteers being recognized had met the rigorous criteria for this federal honor through their sustained commitment to advocating for children's best interests in legal proceedings.

This agenda item was informational in nature, serving as a formal acknowledgment of the volunteers' achievements rather than requiring any council action or decision. The recognition highlighted the important work that CASA volunteers perform in Lexington, supporting vulnerable children who are involved in the court system.

The presentation provided an opportunity for the city to publicly celebrate these community members who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer service, earning recognition at the presidential level for their dedication to child advocacy work.

Angel Laketa Moore Day

1:30

The Lexington government issued Proclamation 0521-24 declaring May 9, 2024, as "Angel Laketa Moore and Marcus Tanksley Day" in the city. Mayor Gorton presented the proclamation during the meeting.

Both Angel Laketa Moore and Marcus Tanksley were present to receive the recognition. The proclamation honored their contributions to the Lexington community, though the specific details of their achievements were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

The proclamation was approved without recorded opposition or debate. Mayor Gorton, Angel Laketa Moore, and Marcus Tanksley were the key participants in this agenda item.

This ceremonial proclamation represents the city's formal recognition of the honorees' community service and impact on Lexington residents.