Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on November 14, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed two agenda items, both of which were approved by the council. During the session, council members took two votes and heard four public comments from community members. The meeting focused on recognizing significant community organizations and events, with the council approving proclamations for Masterson Equestrian Trust Day and the Lexington Leadership Foundation's 25th Anniversary celebration.

Attendance

The following members were present at the November 14, 2024 meeting:

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

Absent: • Gray • Monarrez • Sheehan

Late Arrival: • Worley

A total of 12 members were present for the meeting, with 3 members absent and 1 member arriving after the scheduled start time.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the November 14, 2024 meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 1006-24 2:00 Elliott Baxter motioned to approve An Ordinance creating Subsection 6-53(b)(9) of the Code of Ordinances relating to pensions, with Plomin providing the second. The ordinance passed by a vote of 12-0-0. All twelve council members voted in favor: Fogle, LeGris, Lynch, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Elliott Baxter. No members voted against or abstained.

Resolution 0989-24 8:00 Elliott Baxter motioned to approve A Resolution authorizing the purchase of two new rescue pumper apparatus, with Fogle seconding the motion. The resolution passed unanimously with a vote of 12-0-0. The same twelve council members who supported the previous ordinance also voted in favor of this resolution: Fogle, LeGris, Lynch, Plomin, Reynolds, Sevigny, Worley, Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, and Elliott Baxter. There were no opposing votes or abstentions.

Both votes demonstrated complete council unity, with all present members supporting both the pension-related ordinance and the fire department equipment purchase authorization.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts totaling over $14 million in municipal expenditures.

Fire Department Equipment Purchase The council considered Resolution 0989-24 for the purchase of two new rescue pumper apparatus from Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC at a total cost of $2,216,911. This equipment acquisition represents a substantial investment in the city's emergency response capabilities.

Infrastructure Construction Project Resolution 1061-24 authorized a major construction contract with Cleary Construction Inc. for $12,004,030 to complete the New Circle Rd. Trunks A & B construction project. This infrastructure investment represents the larger of the two financial commitments discussed during the meeting.

The combined value of these two contracts totals $14,220,941, representing significant capital expenditures for both public safety equipment and transportation infrastructure improvements.

Public Comment

Four residents addressed the council during the public comment period, covering topics ranging from local homelessness concerns to international affairs.

Barbara Hatten 3:00 spoke about homelessness and safety issues in Northeast Lexington. She expressed concerns about how homeless services in the area are impacting both public safety and property values for local residents.

The remaining three speakers addressed international issues related to Israel and Gaza:

Josh Buckman 4:00 spoke in opposition to a ceasefire resolution, advocating for continued support of Israel. He emphasized the importance of supporting Israel while opposing Hamas in the ongoing conflict.

Rabbi Litvin 5:00 also argued against adopting a ceasefire resolution. The rabbi contended that such a resolution would have no practical impact on the actual conflict while potentially contributing to increased anti-Semitism in the local community.

Alyssa Rigni 6:00 presented a contrasting perspective by reading a ceasefire resolution to the council. She urged council members to support peace initiatives and work toward ending the conflict in Gaza.

The public comment period reflected both local community concerns about homelessness services and their neighborhood impacts, as well as divided community sentiment regarding the council's potential involvement in international affairs through symbolic resolutions.

Appointments

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

Access Lexington Commission • Susan Reese was reappointed to the Access Lexington Commission • Janet Scheeline was reappointed to the Access Lexington Commission

Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition • Billie Love was reappointed to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition

Human Rights Commission • Stan Zerkowski was appointed to the Human Rights Commission

Public Arts Commission • Georgia Henkel was reappointed to the Public Arts Commission

The appointments represent a mix of new appointments and reappointments of existing members to continue their service on these municipal bodies. Four of the five actions were reappointments, indicating continuity in commission membership, while one new appointment was made to the Human Rights Commission.

Contested Items

The meeting featured significant community disagreement over a proposed ceasefire resolution regarding Israel and Gaza. Multiple speakers addressed the council with opposing viewpoints on this resolution, revealing deep divisions within the community on this international issue.

The contentious nature of the item was evident through the participation of several community members who took time during public comment periods to express their differing perspectives. Some speakers voiced support for the ceasefire resolution, while others opposed it, creating a charged atmosphere during the discussion.

The disagreement centered on whether the local government body should take a position on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza through a formal ceasefire resolution. This type of international policy resolution at the local level often generates controversy, as community members hold varying views on foreign policy matters and whether local government should address such issues.

The structured data indicates this was characterized as "community opposition," suggesting that residents and stakeholders presented conflicting viewpoints to the council. However, the specific details of individual arguments, the exact number of speakers on each side, and the ultimate outcome of the resolution are not provided in the available information.

The presence of this contested item demonstrates how international conflicts can create divisions within local communities, leading residents to seek action from their local elected officials even on matters outside the typical scope of municipal governance.

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

Masterson Equestrian Trust Day

1:00

The city council approved Proclamation 1153-24 declaring November 14, 2024, as Masterson Equestrian Trust Day in recognition of the organization's 20th anniversary.

Mayor Gorton presented the proclamation, highlighting the Masterson Equestrian Trust's two decades of service to the community. The proclamation celebrates the trust's contributions to equestrian activities and programs over the past 20 years.

Shelley Ryan and Cathy Wieschhoff spoke during the agenda item, though the specific details of their remarks were not captured in the available materials. Both speakers appeared to be associated with the Masterson Equestrian Trust and likely provided additional context about the organization's history and impact.

The proclamation was approved without recorded opposition, marking the formal recognition of the trust's milestone anniversary. The timing of the proclamation coincided with the actual anniversary date, making November 14, 2024, officially designated as Masterson Equestrian Trust Day within the city's jurisdiction.

This ceremonial proclamation represents the city's acknowledgment of the trust's ongoing contributions to the local equestrian community and serves as a formal commemoration of their 20-year milestone.

Lexington Leadership Foundation 25th Anniversary

2:00

The Lexington Urban County Council considered proclamation 1154-24 declaring November 14, 2024, as Leadership Lexington Day in celebration of the Lexington Leadership Foundation's 25th anniversary.

Mayor Gorton and Christian Postek served as the key speakers for this agenda item, presenting the proclamation to recognize the organization's quarter-century of service to the community.

The proclamation was approved by the council, officially designating November 14, 2024, as Leadership Lexington Day in honor of the Lexington Leadership Foundation's milestone anniversary and contributions to leadership development in the Lexington community over the past 25 years.