Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on May 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed three agenda items, including two informational presentations recognizing National EMS Week and National Police Week, as well as consideration of repairs to fountain pumps at Thoroughbred Park. The council took three votes during the session and heard from three members of the public during the public comment period. The meeting resulted in the approval of the Thoroughbred Park fountain pump repair project, while the two recognition items served as informational presentations to honor emergency medical services and law enforcement personnel during their respective national recognition weeks.

Attendance

The following members were present at the May 16, 2024 meeting:

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

Absent: Fogle, Worley

No members arrived late to the meeting.

A total of 13 members were present and 2 members were absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted three formal votes during the May 16, 2024 meeting, with mixed outcomes on the agenda items.

Ordinance 0472-24 2:00 - Amending budgets for Council Capital Projects in Parks and Recreation passed unanimously by roll call vote. Elliott Baxter made the motion, seconded by Reynolds. All 13 council members voted in favor: Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Elliott Baxter. The final tally was 13 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions.

Resolution 0454-24 3:00 - Agreement with Lexington Philharmonic for Patriotic Concert also passed with strong support. Ellinger made the motion, seconded by Wu. The roll call vote resulted in 12 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention. Council members voting in favor were Gray, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Elliott Baxter. One member abstained from the vote.

Ordinance 0539-24 4:00 - Prohibiting sale of dogs and cats by pet retail stores failed by a narrow margin. Lynch made the motion, seconded by Gray. The electronic vote resulted in 6 ayes and 7 nays with no abstentions. Supporting the ordinance were Gray, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, F. Brown, and Ellinger. Voting against were LeGris, Reynolds, Sevigny, Sheehan, Wu, J. Brown, and Elliott Baxter.

The meeting demonstrated both unanimous support for budget amendments and the Philharmonic agreement, while revealing a divided council on the pet retail ordinance, which fell one vote short of passage.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial items totaling over $3 million in expenditures and contract amendments.

Campaign Extension Amendment The council approved Resolution 0378-24, authorizing a $51,000 amendment to extend Phase 3 of the It's Time Campaign with Mahan Multimedia, LLC. This amendment represents an expansion of the existing marketing initiative.

Office Equipment Purchase Resolution 0430-24 authorized the purchase of office furniture from Steelcase for $10,479.58. This procurement addresses workplace furnishing needs for city operations.

Major Construction Contract The largest financial action was Resolution 0544-24, approving a $3,023,680 contract with Haire Construction for the Phoenix Park Reimagined Construction Project. This substantial infrastructure investment represents a significant commitment to park improvements and community recreation facilities.

The three resolutions collectively represent $3,085,159.58 in financial commitments, with the Phoenix Park construction project accounting for approximately 97% of the total expenditures approved during this meeting.

Public Comment

Three community members addressed the council during the public comment period, covering topics ranging from international affairs to local pet regulations.

Nadia Rasheed 5:00 spoke about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, urging the council to support a ceasefire resolution. Rasheed emphasized the humanitarian crisis occurring in the region and called on local officials to take action on this international issue.

Melody Zintal 6:00 addressed the proposed Humane Pet Sales Ordinance, speaking in favor of the legislation. Zintal discussed the characteristics that define responsible pet breeders and expressed support for regulations that would promote humane treatment of animals in commercial sales operations.

Danette Stacy 7:00 presented an opposing viewpoint on pet store regulations, arguing against the pet sales ordinance. Stacy contended that the proposed regulations would unfairly impact local pet businesses and suggested that alternative regulatory approaches should be considered instead of the current proposal.

The public comments reflected diverse community concerns, from global humanitarian issues to local business regulations affecting pet sales and animal welfare. The speakers represented different perspectives on the pet ordinance, with one supporting stricter regulations for animal welfare and another raising concerns about potential negative impacts on local businesses.

Appointments

The meeting included three appointments to various boards and commissions.

Zachary Dembo was appointed to the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers Board of Directors.

Basel Touchan was appointed to the Board of Health.

Alex Treadway was appointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs.

All three appointments were approved during the meeting proceedings.

Contested Items

The meeting featured one contentious item that generated significant debate among council members.

Prohibition of Pet Sales by Retail Stores

The primary contested issue involved an ordinance that would prohibit the sale of dogs and cats by pet retail stores within the city. The proposal sparked disagreement among council members, resulting in procedural challenges and a divided vote.

During deliberations, a motion was made to postpone consideration of the ordinance, but this motion failed to gain sufficient support from the council. The debate then proceeded to the substantive matter of the proposed prohibition.

When the ordinance came up for its first reading, the council remained divided on the issue. The vote resulted in a split decision, indicating that council members held differing views on whether retail pet stores should be prohibited from selling dogs and cats within city limits.

The split vote on the first reading suggests the ordinance faced significant opposition, though the specific vote count and individual council member positions were not detailed in the available information. The contentious nature of this item indicates it may require additional discussion and potential amendments before reaching a final resolution in subsequent meetings.

This type of animal welfare legislation often generates debate as councils balance concerns about pet welfare, commercial interests, and regulatory oversight of retail businesses.

National EMS Week

1:00

Mayor Gorton and Fire Chief Jason Wells presented agenda item 0513-24, a proclamation recognizing National EMS Week. The proclamation highlighted the vital contributions of emergency medical services personnel to the community.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton and Chief Wells acknowledged the dedication and professionalism of EMS workers who provide critical emergency medical care to residents. The proclamation served to formally recognize the important role these first responders play in protecting public health and safety.

This was an informational item with no action required from the council. The proclamation was presented as part of the city's recognition of National EMS Week, which annually honors emergency medical services professionals across the country.

National Police Week

1:30

Mayor Gorton and Police Chief Lawrence Weathers presented agenda item 0514-24, a proclamation recognizing National Police Week. The proclamation acknowledged the service and dedication of law enforcement officers in the community.

During the presentation, Mayor Gorton and Chief Weathers highlighted the importance of recognizing the contributions of police officers and their commitment to public safety. The proclamation served as an official acknowledgment of National Police Week, which is observed annually to honor law enforcement personnel.

The agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action required from the council. The presentation provided an opportunity for city leadership to publicly recognize and express appreciation for the work of local law enforcement officers.

No concerns or debate were raised during this agenda item, as it was a ceremonial proclamation recognizing the national observance. The item concluded with the formal recognition of National Police Week by the city.

Repair of Fountain Pumps at Thoroughbred Park

8:00

The council considered Resolution 0523-24 regarding the repair of fountain pumps at Thoroughbred Park. The resolution proposed accepting a bid from Island Electric LLC to perform the necessary pump repairs.

Key speakers during the discussion included J. Brown and LeGris, who presented details about the repair project and the bidding process. The speakers outlined the scope of work needed to restore the fountain pumps to proper working condition at the park facility.

The council ultimately approved the resolution, authorizing the acceptance of Island Electric LLC's bid for the fountain pump repair work at Thoroughbred Park. The approval allows the city to move forward with the necessary repairs to maintain this park amenity for public use.