Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on September 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The council addressed three agenda items during the meeting, resulting in three formal votes on various ordinances and resolutions.

The council took action on two ordinances and one resolution, with mixed results for the evening's legislative business. Ordinance 0815-24 was denied by the council, while both Ordinance 0843-24 and Resolution 0765-24 received approval from the members. No public comments were heard during this meeting, indicating either limited public attendance or no citizens signed up to address the council during the designated public comment period.

The meeting focused primarily on the council's legislative agenda, with members deliberating and voting on the three items brought before them for consideration.

Attendance

The following members were present at the September 12, 2024 meeting:

Present: • Mayor Gorton • Wu • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Elliott Baxter • Fogle • Gray • LeGris • Lynch • Monarrez • Reynolds • Sevigny • Sheehan

Absent: • Worley • Plomin

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 14 members were present, with 2 members absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on three items during the September 12, 2024 meeting.

Minutes Approval 0:10 Council Member Gray motioned to approve minutes from the August 22, 2024, August 29, 2024, and September 3, 2024 meetings, with a second by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed unanimously.

Ordinance 0815-24 0:45 Council Member Fogle motioned to approve An Ordinance changing the zone from an Agricultural Rural (A-R) zone to an Agricultural Buffer (A-B) zone for property located at 8200 Tates Creek Rd., with a second by Council Member Wu. The ordinance failed by a roll call vote of 0 ayes and 13 nays. All council members voted against the measure: - Voting against: Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Reynolds, Sevigny, and Sheehan

Ordinance 0843-24 1:15 Council Member Fogle motioned to approve An Ordinance amending and restating Ordinance No. 50-2016 pertaining to the Contingency Designation Fund and Policy, with a second by Council Member Wu. The ordinance passed by a roll call vote of 12 ayes and 1 nay. - Voting for: Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Reynolds, Sevigny, and Sheehan - Voting against: F. Brown

The meeting demonstrated unanimous agreement on procedural matters and the contingency fund policy, while the zoning change proposal received no support from any council member.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed five financial resolutions totaling approximately $2.2 million in contracts and purchases.

Technology Infrastructure Improvements

Two resolutions focused on enhancing internet connectivity for critical government facilities. Resolution 0789-24 authorized a $9,648 contract with Accelecom, Inc. for a redundant fiber Internet connection at the Public Safety Operations Center. Resolution 0790-24 approved an $11,700 contract with Earthlink, Inc. for a redundant Internet connection at the Government Center. These redundant connections provide backup internet service to ensure continuous operations at essential government facilities.

Transportation and Infrastructure Services

Resolution 0791-24 authorized a $69,400 contract with Prime AE for post-construction bike and pedestrian user counts and reporting services for the Town Branch Commons Corridor. This service will provide data on usage patterns following the completion of the corridor project.

Fleet Management Technology

Resolution 0794-24 approved the purchase of electronic vehicle inspection reporting software and related services from Zonar Systems, LLC for $82,625. This system will modernize the vehicle inspection and reporting processes for the government fleet.

Animal Control Services

The largest financial commitment was Resolution 0795-24, which authorized a $2,046,000 contract with Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control, LLC for animal control services. This substantial contract represents the continuation of essential animal control operations for the community.

The combined value of these five resolutions totals $2,218,773, with the animal control services contract representing approximately 92% of the total financial commitments approved during the meeting.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions.

Reappointments: • Jordan Parker was reappointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board • Roy Wilson was reappointed to the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers Board of Directors • Anna Mills was reappointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs • Joseph David was reappointed to the Corridors Commission

New Appointments: • Roger Daman was appointed to the Corridors Commission • John Burrell was appointed to the Dunbar Neighborhood Center Board • Michael Krahe was appointed to the Human Rights Commission • Stephen Howard was appointed to the Rural Land Management Board

The appointments covered a range of municipal functions, from affordable housing oversight and veterans' affairs to crime prevention and neighborhood center governance. The Corridors Commission received both a new appointment and a reappointment, indicating ongoing activity in that area of city planning and development.

Contested Items

The council addressed one contested zoning matter during the September 12, 2024 meeting.

Zone Change for 8200 Tates Creek Road

The council unanimously disapproved an ordinance that would have changed the zoning classification for property located at 8200 Tates Creek Road from Agricultural Rural to Agricultural Buffer. This decision aligned with a prior recommendation for disapproval issued by the planning commission.

The unanimous vote against the zoning change indicates there was no disagreement among council members regarding this matter, with all members voting to reject the proposed rezoning. The planning commission's earlier recommendation for disapproval appears to have influenced the council's decision-making process.

No additional details were provided regarding the specific reasons for the disapproval or the nature of any public input on this zoning request.

Ordinance 0815-24

0:45

The council considered Ordinance 0815-24, which proposed changing the zoning classification for property located at 8200 Tates Creek Road from Agricultural Rural (A-R) to Agricultural Buffer (A-B).

During the discussion, key speakers included council members Fogle and Wu, who participated in the deliberation of this zoning change request. The ordinance sought to modify the land use designation for the specific property, which would have altered the permitted uses and development standards applicable to the site.

The Agricultural Buffer (A-B) zone typically serves as a transitional zoning classification that provides a buffer between more intensive land uses and rural or agricultural areas, while still maintaining some agricultural character and limiting development density.

Following discussion and consideration of the proposal, the council ultimately denied Ordinance 0815-24. The denial means the property at 8200 Tates Creek Road will retain its current Agricultural Rural (A-R) zoning classification, maintaining the existing land use regulations and development standards that apply to that zone.

The specific reasons for the denial and detailed arguments presented by council members Fogle, Wu, and other participants were part of the recorded discussion during this agenda item.

Ordinance 0843-24

1:15

The council considered Ordinance 0843-24, which amends and restates Ordinance No. 50-2016 regarding the Contingency Designation Fund and Policy. This ordinance updates the existing framework governing how the municipality manages and allocates contingency funds.

Key speakers during the discussion included council members Fogle and Wu, who presented the proposed changes to the contingency fund policy. The ordinance represents a comprehensive revision of the 2016 policy that established the original contingency designation procedures.

The Contingency Designation Fund serves as a financial reserve mechanism that allows the municipality to respond to unexpected expenses or emergency situations that arise during the fiscal year. The amended ordinance updates the policy framework to reflect current operational needs and best practices in municipal financial management.

Following discussion by the council members, Ordinance 0843-24 was approved. The approval means the updated contingency fund policy will replace the existing Ordinance No. 50-2016, providing the municipality with revised guidelines for managing contingency designations and fund allocations.

The ordinance's passage ensures the municipality maintains an updated policy framework for handling unexpected financial needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility and proper oversight of contingency fund usage.

Resolution 0765-24

2:30

The council considered Resolution 0765-24, which would authorize the Mayor to execute and submit a grant application to the Kentucky Department of Education for participation in the USDA's Child Care Food Program.

Elliott Baxter and LeGris served as the key speakers during the discussion of this resolution. The resolution seeks to enable the city to participate in a federal program that provides nutritional support for child care facilities.

The USDA's Child Care Food Program is designed to help child care centers and family day care homes serve nutritious meals and snacks to children in their care. By authorizing the Mayor to submit this grant application through the Kentucky Department of Education, the city would be taking steps to access federal funding that could benefit local child care providers and the families they serve.

The council approved Resolution 0765-24, allowing the Mayor to proceed with the grant application process. This approval demonstrates the council's support for pursuing federal funding opportunities that could enhance child nutrition programs within the community's child care facilities.