Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on October 24, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The council addressed two main agenda items during the meeting, both of which were successfully approved through the legislative process.

The meeting included consideration of a proclamation for GreenHouse17 Day and amendments to the FY 2025 budget under Schedule No. 10, with both items receiving council approval. Four members of the public provided comments during the public input portion of the meeting, allowing community members to address the council on matters of local concern. The council conducted two formal votes during the session, resulting in the successful passage of both agenda items presented for consideration.

Attendance

The following Council members were present at the October 24, 2024 meeting:

• Ellinger
• Elliott Baxter
• Fogle
• LeGris
• Lynch
• Monarrez
• Plomin
• Reynolds
• Sheehan
• Worley
• Wu
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Gray (arrived late)

Absent: • Sevigny

Late Arrival: • Gray

Fourteen Council members were in attendance, with one member absent and one member arriving late to the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The Council conducted two roll call votes during the October 24, 2024 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 1030-24 1:00:00 Council member Ellinger motioned to approve Ordinance 1030-24, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for FY 2025 Schedule No. 10. The motion was seconded by Wu. The ordinance passed unanimously with a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 0 nays.

Voting in favor were: Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, and J. Brown.

Resolution 0984-24 1:30:00 Council member Plomin motioned to approve Resolution 0984-24, accepting the bid of Davis H. Elliot Construction Co. Inc. for the Fiber Optic Expansion Project. Elliott Baxter seconded the motion. The resolution passed unanimously with a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 0 nays.

The same 14 council members voted in favor: Ellinger, Elliott Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, and J. Brown.

Both votes demonstrated unanimous support from all present council members, with no abstentions recorded for either measure. The budget amendment and fiber optic project contract approval moved forward without opposition.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved two significant financial expenditures during the October 24, 2024 meeting, totaling over $1.1 million in municipal investments.

Fiber Optic Infrastructure Investment The Council authorized Resolution 0984-24, approving a contract worth $696,754 with Davis H. Elliot Construction Co. Inc. for the Fiber Optic Expansion Project. This substantial infrastructure investment represents the city's continued commitment to expanding broadband connectivity throughout the community.

Emergency Services Equipment Purchase Resolution 0946-24 was approved, authorizing the purchase of a new emergency care apparatus from American Response Vehicle for $436,936. This acquisition will enhance the city's emergency medical response capabilities and ensure residents have access to modern emergency care equipment.

The combined financial commitments of $1,133,690 reflect the Council's focus on critical infrastructure improvements and public safety enhancements. Both expenditures support essential city services - the fiber optic expansion addressing long-term connectivity needs and the emergency apparatus purchase ensuring adequate emergency medical response capacity for residents.

Public Comment

Four speakers addressed the Council during the public comment period, all focusing on Palestinian-related issues and urging Council action on a ceasefire resolution.

Alyssa Rigney 3:00:00 spoke first, urging the Council to support a ceasefire resolution for Palestine. She emphasized the human toll of the ongoing conflict and called for the Council to take a stance on the issue.

Logan Robertson 3:05:00 followed, highlighting the determination of pro-Palestinian activists in their advocacy efforts. Robertson also criticized what he described as the influence of wealthy donors on political decision-making processes.

Alaa Hassan 3:10:00 provided a detailed account of violence in Gaza, describing the impact on civilian populations. Hassan shared what was characterized as a harrowing account of the situation and called on the Council to take action in response to the crisis.

Arsh Ansari 3:15:00 concluded the public comment period by addressing the Council's responsibilities to their constituents. Ansari reminded Council members of their duty to listen to community members and criticized what he viewed as the Council's inaction on Palestinian issues.

All four speakers focused their comments on urging the Council to consider or support measures related to the conflict in Palestine and Gaza, with particular emphasis on a ceasefire resolution. The speakers presented various perspectives on the Council's role and responsibility in addressing international issues that concern their constituents.

Appointments

The Council approved several reappointments to city boards and commissions during the October 24, 2024 meeting.

Airport Board of Directors • Shirie Hawkins was reappointed to the Airport Board of Directors • Tonya Jackson was reappointed to the Airport Board of Directors

Arboretum Advisory Board • Paige Smith was reappointed to the Arboretum Advisory Board

All three reappointments were approved by the Council to continue these individuals' service on their respective boards.

Contested Items

The October 24, 2024 Council meeting featured one primary contested item that generated significant community engagement and discussion.

Ceasefire Resolution for Palestine

Multiple members of the public used the public comment period to urge the Council to support a ceasefire resolution regarding the ongoing conflict in Palestine. The commenters emphasized the humanitarian crisis and continuing violence in the region, calling on the Council to take a formal position supporting a ceasefire.

The nature of the contention centered on community advocacy for the Council to address an international issue through local government action. Public commenters presented their case for why the Council should consider and potentially adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Palestine, framing it as a matter of humanitarian concern that warranted local government attention.

The disagreement involved community members who felt strongly that the Council should take a public stance on this international conflict versus the typical scope of local municipal governance. The commenters appeared to be advocating for the Council to expand its role beyond traditional local issues to address what they viewed as an urgent humanitarian matter requiring broad governmental support at all levels.

No immediate Council action or formal response to these public comments was recorded in the available meeting materials. The item remained at the public comment stage, with community members having presented their position but no indication of Council deliberation or decision-making on the proposed ceasefire resolution during this meeting.

The contested nature of this item stemmed from the intersection of international affairs with local government responsibilities, as community members sought to engage their local elected officials on a matter of global significance that they felt required local governmental voice and support.

GreenHouse17 Day

30:00

The Lexington City Council considered agenda item 1081-24, a proclamation declaring October 24, 2024, as GreenHouse17 Day in the city of Lexington. Mayor Gorton presented the proclamation, which formally recognized GreenHouse17's ongoing advocacy work supporting survivors of domestic violence.

The proclamation highlighted the organization's commitment to providing resources and support services for individuals affected by domestic violence within the Lexington community. Mayor Gorton emphasized the importance of acknowledging local organizations that work to address critical social issues and support vulnerable populations.

Darlene Thomas also spoke during the agenda item, though specific details of her remarks were not provided in the available materials. The proclamation represents the city's formal recognition of GreenHouse17's contributions to community welfare and domestic violence prevention efforts.

The Council approved the proclamation without recorded opposition, officially establishing October 24, 2024, as GreenHouse17 Day in Lexington. This designation serves to raise awareness about domestic violence issues and publicly acknowledge the valuable work being done by local advocacy organizations.

The proclamation follows the city's practice of recognizing community organizations and causes that contribute to public welfare and social justice initiatives within Lexington.

Amending Budgets for FY 2025 Schedule No. 10

1:00:00

The Council considered Ordinance 1030-24, which amends certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures for Fiscal Year 2025 Schedule No. 10.

Council members Ellinger and Wu served as key speakers during the discussion of this budget amendment ordinance. The measure addresses adjustments needed to align the city's budget allocations with current operational requirements and expenditure needs.

The ordinance follows the standard process for municipal budget amendments, allowing the Urban County Government to modify previously approved budget allocations to better reflect actual spending requirements and priorities that have emerged since the original FY 2025 budget was adopted.

The Council approved the ordinance, enabling the necessary budget adjustments to move forward. This type of budget amendment is a routine part of municipal financial management, ensuring that departmental allocations remain aligned with operational needs throughout the fiscal year.

The approval allows various city departments and programs to proceed with adjusted funding levels as outlined in Schedule No. 10 of the budget amendment process.