Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on July 9, 2024, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with Vice Mayor Wu presiding over the session. The council addressed seven agenda items during the meeting, covering a range of municipal business including zoning matters, budget amendments, mayoral appointments, and procurement approvals.

The council took action on 12 motions and votes throughout the session, with most substantive items receiving approval. Key business included requested rezonings and docket approval, budget amendments, new business items, mayoral appointments, and procurement matters. The meeting also featured one public comment period focused on agenda issues and included continuing business and presentations for informational purposes.

All action items on the agenda were successfully approved by the council, demonstrating efficient processing of municipal business. The session balanced both administrative functions, such as budget amendments and procurement approvals, with community engagement through public comment opportunities and informational presentations.

Attendance

All members were present for the meeting on July 9, 2024.

Present: • Mayor Gorton • Vice Mayor Wu • 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 participating from the start of the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted 12 votes during the July 9, 2024 meeting, with all motions passing unanimously with 16 members present.

Docket Approval 0:30 Councilmember Baxter moved to approve the July 2, 2024 Council Meeting Docket, as amended, seconded by Monarrez. The motion passed unanimously 16-0 by roll call vote, with all members voting in favor: Mayor Gorton, Vice Mayor Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger II, Fogle, Lynch, LeGris, Monarrez, Sheehan, Gray, Worley, F. Brown, Baxter, Sevigny, Reynolds, and Plomin.

Docket Additions [timestamps: 01:00-03:00] Three items were added to the July 9, 2024 docket by voice vote: - Gray moved to add a resolution authorizing speed tables installation, seconded by Monarrez (passed 16-0) - Reynolds moved to add a resolution authorizing a change order with Lagco, Inc., seconded by J. Brown (passed 16-0) - J. Brown moved to add a resolution approving assignment of agreements with Waste Services of the Bluegrass LLC, seconded by Reynolds (passed 16-0)

Meeting Scheduling 4:00 J. Brown moved to schedule a special meeting and public hearing for September 3, 2024, seconded by Plomin. The motion passed 16-0 by voice vote.

Administrative Approvals [timestamps: 05:00-10:00] The council approved several administrative items by voice vote, all passing 16-0: - Work session summary approval (Sheehan/Monarrez) - Budget amendments - New business items (Gray/Fogle) - Mayoral appointments (Baxter/Monarrez) - Procurements (Plomin/Monarrez) - Neighborhood development funds (Gray/Lynch)

Committee Referral 11:00 Monarrez moved to place an item on improving fire recruitment in the Social Services and Public Safety Committee, seconded by Lynch. The motion passed 16-0 by voice vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed multiple significant financial commitments totaling over $10.8 million in contracts, grants, and agreements.

Major Development and Infrastructure Projects

The largest single item was authorization to execute agreements with Qureshi Development Group for the MLK Apartment Project totaling $1,413,514 (L0617-24). Additionally, the Kentucky Cleaner Water Round 2 Grant for UV Radiation WWTP Disinfection Retrofit project was approved for $1,281,696 (L0718-24).

Training and Public Safety Grants

Two substantial training incentive grants were approved for fiscal year 2025: the Police Training Incentive Grant for $4,170,198 (L0716-24) and the Fire Training Incentive Grant for $4,059,254 (L0715-24), representing the largest combined financial commitment of the meeting.

Professional Services and Program Contracts

Several professional services agreements were authorized, including a $517,636.27 contract with Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (L0724-24) and a second renewal agreement with Mackey Group, LLC for media placement services worth $400,000 (L0723-24). Smaller service contracts included $28,000 for Andrews Counseling PLLC to provide trauma counseling services (L0699-24) and $8,000 for Walker Construction LLC for the It Takes A Village Summer Youth Program (L0698-24).

Technology and Community Services

The meeting approved an $18,150 End User License Agreement with Magnet Forensics, LLC (L0722-24) and accepted the Lexington Senior Center Grant Award for FY 2025 totaling $183,455 from the Bluegrass Area Development District (L0717-24).

Notable Lease Agreement

A unique $1 lease agreement was approved with the Board of Education of Fayette County for Meadowbrook Golf Course (L0713-24), representing a nominal fee arrangement for the facility use.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one speaker addressed the board regarding fire department staffing and emergency response capacity.

Kevin Pletski 12:00, President of the firefighters union, spoke about critical staffing and equipment needs within the fire department. Pletski highlighted the increasing demand for emergency services and the resulting strain on current resources. He specifically discussed the need for additional ambulances and firefighters to adequately serve the community's growing emergency response requirements.

Pletski's comments focused on the operational challenges facing the department as call volumes continue to rise while staffing levels remain insufficient to meet demand. He emphasized that the current firefighter staffing levels are creating unsustainable working conditions and potentially compromising response times and service quality for residents.

The union president's presentation underscored the urgent need for expanded ambulance services, noting that the existing fleet and personnel are being stretched beyond capacity. His remarks suggested that without additional resources, the department may struggle to maintain its current level of emergency medical and fire suppression services.

No other members of the public provided comments during this portion of the meeting.

Appointments

The meeting included appointments to various commissions and boards, though specific details about individual appointees and their designated positions were not clearly documented in the available materials.

Multiple appointments were made during the session, with various individuals being appointed to serve on different municipal commissions and boards. However, the specific names of appointees, the exact boards or commissions they were appointed to, and the particular roles they will fulfill were not detailed in the extracted meeting data.

These appointments represent the ongoing process of filling positions on the city's various advisory bodies, regulatory commissions, and oversight boards that support municipal operations and governance. Such appointments are typically made to ensure continued representation and expertise across the different areas of city administration and community oversight.

The appointments were processed as part of the regular business conducted during the meeting, following standard municipal procedures for board and commission appointments.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps and detailed appointment information were not available in the source materials provided.*

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00 The meeting opened with an opportunity for public comment on issues listed on the agenda. This agenda item provided a designated time for members of the public to address the governing body regarding any matters scheduled for discussion during the meeting.

No specific speakers or comments were recorded during this public comment period. The item served as a standard procedural element, allowing community members the opportunity to provide input on agenda items before formal deliberations began.

This public comment period was informational in nature, with no formal action taken by the governing body. The agenda item fulfilled standard open meeting requirements that provide public participation opportunities in government proceedings.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

0:30

The council considered approval of the docket for the July 2, 2024 meeting, which included various rezoning requests. The discussion involved key speakers Baxter and Monarrez, who addressed the proposed rezoning items on the docket.

The council reviewed the rezoning requests that had been submitted for consideration, though specific details about individual properties or rezoning types were not detailed in the available materials. The docket approval process allows the council to formally accept and schedule these rezoning requests for future consideration and public hearings.

Following discussion between the speakers, the council voted to approve the docket for the July 2, 2024 meeting. This approval means the rezoning requests included in the docket will proceed through the standard review process, which typically includes staff analysis, public notice requirements, and formal public hearings before final decisions are made on each individual rezoning request.

The approval of the docket represents a procedural step that enables the rezoning requests to move forward in the municipal review process, ensuring proper public notice and opportunity for community input on the proposed land use changes.

Budget Amendments

6:00

The council considered budget amendments during the July 9, 2024 meeting. The amendments were presented to the council for approval, though the specific details of the proposed changes were not detailed in the available materials.

Key speakers during this agenda item included Plomin and Baxter, who participated in the discussion of the budget modifications.

The council voted to approve the budget amendments as presented. No significant concerns or objections were raised during the discussion of this item.

The approval of these budget amendments allows the necessary financial adjustments to move forward as proposed by staff.

New Business

7:00

The council addressed several new business items during this portion of the meeting. Council members Gray and Fogle were the primary speakers for this agenda item.

The new business section included consideration of 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.

Council members Gray and Fogle led the presentation and discussion of these items, providing necessary information for the council's consideration. The items presented were of a routine nature requiring formal council action through resolution.

Following the presentation and any discussion among council members, the council voted to approve the new business items. The approval encompassed the various contracts and agreements that were brought forward during this portion of the meeting.

The new business items were successfully approved by the council, allowing the associated contracts and agreements to move forward as presented.

Communications From the Mayor – Appointments

8:00

The council considered mayoral appointments during this agenda item. Council members Baxter and Monarrez participated in the discussion of the appointments as presented by the mayor.

The council approved the mayoral appointments without recorded opposition or significant debate. No specific details about the nature of the positions, the names of appointees, or the terms of service were captured in the available meeting materials.

The appointments were approved as presented by the mayor.

Communications From the Mayor – Procurements

9:00

The council reviewed procurement items presented by the mayor during this portion of the meeting. Council members Plomin and Monarrez participated in the discussion of the procurement matters.

The procurement items were presented to the council for approval as part of the mayor's communications. The council proceeded to approve the procurement items as they were presented, with no significant debate or concerns raised during the discussion.

The outcome was the approval of all procurement items that were brought forward by the mayor's office.

Continuing Business/Presentations

10:00

The council received a presentation on National Parks and Recreation Month during this portion of the meeting. Monika Conrad served as the key speaker for this informational presentation.

The presentation focused on recognizing July as National Parks and Recreation Month, highlighting the importance of parks and recreational facilities in the community. This was an informational item with no action required from the council.

No specific details about the content of Conrad's presentation, concerns raised by council members, or discussion points were provided in the available materials. The item concluded as an informational presentation without any formal council action or decisions.