Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on May 28, 2024, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed four agenda items, including both new and continuing business matters that required council action. During the session, council members took four votes on various motions and heard one public comment on agenda-related issues. The meeting included one presentation regarding a BMWA (Bluegrass Metropolitan Workforce Alliance) trip, which was provided for informational purposes. Overall, the council successfully approved items under both new business and continuing business/presentations, while also receiving public input and a workforce development update.

Attendance

The meeting on May 28, 2024, had strong attendance with 14 members present and one absence.

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

Absent: • Worley

Late Arrivals: None

The meeting proceeded with a quorum present, allowing for official business to be conducted.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted four votes during the May 28, 2024 meeting, all of which passed by voice vote.

Approval of Council Work Session Motions from May 14 0:00 The council approved motions from the May 14 work session. The motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Approval of New Business 2:00 Vice Mayor Wu moved to approve new business items, with Councilmember Plomin providing the second. The motion passed by voice vote.

Approval of Neighborhood Development Funds 3:00 Councilmember Ellinger made a motion to approve neighborhood development funds, seconded by Councilmember Fogle. The motion passed by voice vote without opposition.

Approval of Council Capital Projects 4:00 Councilmember Sheehan moved to approve council capital projects, with Councilmember Gray seconding the motion. The motion passed by voice vote.

All four votes were conducted as voice votes rather than roll call votes, so individual council member positions were not recorded. No abstentions or opposing votes were noted for any of the motions during this meeting.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council approved several significant financial agreements totaling over $1.2 million during the meeting.

Infrastructure and Utilities

The council authorized Change Order No. 1 with CROM, LLC for Town Branch WWTP Concrete Channel Repairs in the amount of $343,177.46 (Resolution 0530-24). This change order addresses additional work needed for the wastewater treatment plant's concrete channel repair project.

Transportation Services

A renewal of the Annual Memorandum of Agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for traffic signal maintenance and operations was approved for $426,000.00 (Resolution 0549-24). This agreement ensures continued coordination and funding for traffic signal systems throughout the city.

Emergency Services Training

The council approved the renewal of a Memorandum of Agreement with Bluegrass Community and Technical College for Fire Academy credits totaling $100,000 (Resolution 0551-24). This partnership provides educational opportunities and training credits for fire department personnel.

Safety and Compliance

An agreement with ALL4, LLC for OSHA Program Compliance Management was authorized for $337,000.00 (Resolution 0554-24). This contract will provide comprehensive occupational safety and health administration compliance services for city operations.

These four financial actions represent ongoing commitments to infrastructure maintenance, public safety training, traffic management, and workplace safety compliance across various city departments and services.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one community member addressed the board regarding a proposed ordinance.

Brian Clark spoke about the Urban Agreed Ordinance 90:00. Clark expressed concerns about the proposed legislation, arguing that it would create limitations on where residents can access fuel. He also raised issues about potential impacts on the movement of goods and services within the community, suggesting the ordinance could create logistical challenges for local commerce and transportation.

No other public comments were recorded during this portion of the meeting.

Contested Items

During the May 28, 2024 meeting, one item generated community opposition and discussion.

Urban Agreed Ordinance

The Urban Agreed Ordinance faced opposition from community member Brian Clark, who spoke against the proposed measure. Clark raised specific concerns about the ordinance's potential negative impact on fueling locations and broader industry operations within the jurisdiction.

Clark's opposition centered on how the ordinance would affect existing fuel service businesses and related industrial activities. He argued that the proposed regulations could create operational challenges or restrictions for these establishments.

The extracted data does not indicate the final outcome of this contested item or whether the council took action on the ordinance following Clark's public comments. No other speakers or council member positions on this matter were documented in the available information.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00

No members of the public provided comments on agenda items during this portion of the meeting. The public comment period for issues on the agenda was opened but no speakers came forward to address the governing body.

This agenda item serves as an opportunity for community members to speak directly to elected officials about specific matters scheduled for discussion or action during the meeting. The absence of public participation during this segment indicates that no citizens chose to exercise this opportunity to provide input on the day's agenda items.

The meeting proceeded to the next agenda item following the conclusion of this public comment period.

New Business

2:00

The council addressed new business items during this portion of the meeting, with Vice Mayor Wu and Plomin serving as the primary speakers for the discussion.

The new business segment focused on reviewing and considering various contracts and agreements that required council approval. While the specific details of individual contracts were not provided in the available materials, the discussion encompassed multiple items that fell under the new business category.

Vice Mayor Wu and Plomin presented the new business items to the council for consideration. The discussion appeared to proceed without significant debate or controversy, as the council moved through the various items in a routine manner.

Following the presentation and discussion of the new business items, the council voted to approve the matters under consideration. The approval indicates that the council found the contracts and agreements to be acceptable and in the best interest of the municipality.

The new business portion of the meeting concluded with all presented items receiving council approval, allowing the various contracts and agreements to move forward as proposed.

Continuing Business/Presentations

3:00

The council received presentations on two key funding initiatives during the continuing business portion of the meeting. Speakers Ellinger and Fogle delivered presentations covering Neighborhood Development Funds and Council Capital Projects.

The presentations focused on providing updates and information regarding these municipal funding programs. Neighborhood Development Funds typically support community-based improvement projects and local development initiatives, while Council Capital Projects encompass larger infrastructure and facility investments managed by the city council.

Both Ellinger and Fogle presented information about these funding mechanisms, though the specific details of their presentations, including funding amounts, project timelines, or particular initiatives discussed, were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

The presentations were approved by the council, indicating acceptance of the information provided and potentially authorization to proceed with related activities or recommendations presented by the speakers.

This agenda item represents routine municipal business where council members receive updates on ongoing funding programs that support neighborhood development and capital improvement projects throughout the community.

BMWA Trip Presentation

5:00

BMW Academy students presented on their educational trip to Huntsville, Alabama, with key speakers Roz Akins and Tyrone Harris leading the presentation. The students shared their experiences and insights from the trip, which focused on community engagement and educational opportunities in the Huntsville area.

The presentation highlighted various aspects of their visit, showcasing how the trip provided valuable learning experiences for the BMW Academy participants. The students discussed the educational components of their journey and the community connections they made during their time in Huntsville.

Akins and Harris guided the presentation, allowing students to share their perspectives on what they learned and observed during the trip. The presentation served as an informational update to meeting attendees about the academy's educational activities and community outreach efforts.

This agenda item was purely informational, with no formal action required from the meeting participants. The presentation provided insight into the BMW Academy's educational programming and the value of experiential learning opportunities for students.