Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on November 19, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. in the Government Center Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The council addressed 13 agenda items during the session, taking 27 votes and hearing 3 public comments from residents.

The council approved several items including a summary of previous proceedings, budget amendments, new business, mayoral appointments, and mayoral donations. One rezoning request was deferred for further consideration. The council also received informational reports on budget adjustments, mayoral procurements, and council reports. Public comment periods were held both for issues on the agenda and for matters not on the agenda, allowing residents to address the council on various topics.

Attendance

Present: Mayor Linda Gorton and 25 Council Members: James Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger II, Fogle, Lynch, LeGris, Sheehan, Gray, Worley, F. Brown, Baxter, Sevigny, Reynolds, Plomin, Larkin, Armstrong, Weathers, George, Hamilton, Conrad, Ford, Baradaran, Martin, and Hensley.

Absent: Council Member Monarrez

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

Ordinance 1144-24 (Zone Change - Without Public Hearing) 44:51

Motion by Council Member James Brown, seconded by Council Member Fogle, to place an ordinance changing zone from R1E to R3 and B1 to corridor node zone on the docket without public hearing. The motion failed in a roll call vote, 6-6.

Voting in favor: Council Members James Brown, Fogle, Gray, Plomin, Legree, and Worley.

Voting against: Council Members Vice Mayor Wu, Baxter, Ellinger II, Reynolds, Savigny, and Larkin.

Motion to Remove Item 10 from Docket 1:04:07

Motion by Council Member Worley, seconded by Council Member Gray, to remove the zone change request from the docket. The motion passed in a roll call vote, 11-3.

Voting in favor: Council Members James Brown, Fogle, Gray, Plomin, Legree, Worley, Larkin, Armstrong, Weathers, George, and Hamilton.

Voting against: Council Members Vice Mayor Wu, Baxter, and Ellinger II.

Ordinance 1144-24 (Zone Change - With Public Hearing) 1:00:41

Motion by Council Member Legree, seconded by Council Member Worley, to place an ordinance changing zone from R1E to R3 and B1 to corridor node zone on the docket with public hearing. This motion was not voted on.

Remaining Authorizations 1:05:37

The following items passed by voice vote:

• L1106-24: Authorization to purchase snowplow parts from J Edinger & Sons (motion by Council Member Allen, seconded by Council Member Albright)
• L1115-24: Authorization to approve two temporary easements to KYTC on Jacobson Park (motion by Council Member Conrad, seconded by Council Member Ford)
• L1122-24: Authorization to establish Bobcat Enterprises as sole source provider for repair and parts of Bobcat equipment (motion by Council Member Baradaran, seconded by Council Member Ford)
• L1123-24: Authorization to approve FY25 Class B Infrastructure Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant for 1000 Delaware, LLC (motion by Council Member Martin, seconded by Council Member Albright)
• L1125-24: Authorization to execute 2025 General Term Orders for Fayette County Clerk (motion by Council Member Hensley, seconded by Council Member Hensley)
• L1127-24: Authorization to extend Behavioral Health & Wellness Coordinator position through February 28, 2025 (motion by Council Member George, seconded by Council Member Hamilton)
• L1128-24: Authorization to renew agreement with Transamerica Life Insurance Company for Voluntary Whole Life Plan (motion by Council Member George, seconded by Council Member Hamilton)
• L1129-24: Authorization to execute agreement with Sullivan University for 15% tuition discount (motion by Council Member George, seconded by Council Member Hamilton)
• L1130-24: Authorization to provide one-time supplement to eligible employees from FY24 Fund Balance (motion by Council Member George, seconded by Council Member Hamilton)
• L1138-24: Authorization to execute Central Bank Center and Levy Catering Agreements for Police Awards Banquet (motion by Council Member Weathers, seconded by Council Member Armstrong)
• L1140-24: Authorization to enter into contract with ReadyOp for emergency operations software (motion by Council Member Larkin, seconded by Council Member Armstrong)
• L1141-24: Authorization to execute Professional Service Agreement with Megan Magsam for forensic nursing advocacy (motion by Council Member Weathers, seconded by Council Member Armstrong)

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting approved the following financial actions:

Purchases and Contracts

• Purchase of snowplow parts for snowplow trucks from J Edinger & Sons for $54,624.20 (L1106-24)
• Contract with Bobcat Enterprises to serve as sole source provider for repair and parts of Bobcat equipment for $100,000.00 (L1122-24)
• Contract with ReadyOp for emergency operations software for $19,500.00 (L1140-24)
• Professional Service Agreement with Megan Magsam for forensic nursing advocacy for $46,816.00 (L1141-24)
• Renewal of agreement with Transamerica Life Insurance Company for Voluntary Whole Life Plan (L1128-24)
• Agreement with Sullivan University for 15% tuition discount (L1129-24)
• Central Bank Center and Levy Catering Agreements for Police Awards Banquet (L1138-24)

Grants

• Payment to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for temporary easements on Jacobson Park for $13,550.00 (L1115-24)
• FY25 Class B Infrastructure Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant for 1000 Delaware, LLC for $13,966.00 (L1123-24)

Appropriations and Amendments

• 2025 General Term Orders for Fayette County Clerk (L1125-24)
• Extension of Behavioral Health & Wellness Coordinator position within the Division of Police (L1127-24)
• One-time supplement to eligible employees from FY24 Fund Balance for $1,600,000.00 (L1130-24)

Public Comment

Three members of the public addressed the meeting on November 19, 2024.

Zone Change Request for South Limestone

Nick Nicholson spoke at 2:35 regarding a zone change request for South Limestone. He requested a public hearing for the proposed zone change and noted that revisions had been made to reduce the project's scale and address neighborhood concerns.

Support for Prawl Town Neighborhood

Walter Gaffield commented at 4:44 to express support for the Prawl Town neighborhood. He encouraged compromise between developers and residents on the matter.

Government Transparency

Martin Rivers addressed the meeting at 1:31:11 to advocate for increased government transparency. He requested public access to budget sessions and their recordings, and called for citizen input to be included in future studies.

Appointments

The following appointment was recorded for this meeting:

• Dee Headley signed up for Public Comment

Contested Items

Zone Change Request for South Limestone

A proposed zone change for South Limestone generated significant community opposition during the meeting. Residents and neighborhood associations raised concerns about the potential for historical erasure and the request's racial impact. The council itself was divided on how to proceed, with disagreement over whether to hold a public hearing on the matter. This division reflected broader concerns about the decision-making process and the opportunity for community input on a proposal with contested implications.

Procedural Dispute Over Docket Action

A procedural disagreement emerged regarding the handling of a failed motion. Council members debated whether a motion that failed to pass—specifically one to skip a public hearing—automatically placed an item on the docket for consideration. This technical question about parliamentary procedure led to a subsequent motion to remove the item from the docket. The dispute highlighted questions about procedural clarity and the mechanisms by which items are formally scheduled for council action. The discussion underscored the importance of clear procedural rules in governing how contested matters move through the council's decision-making process.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

2:35

Two members of the public addressed the meeting during the public comment period on agenda items.

Nick Nicholson requested a public hearing for a zone change on South Limestone.

Walter Gaffield spoke in support of the Prawl Town neighborhood.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

5:21

The council discussed a zone change request and whether to place it on the docket without holding a public hearing. Council members James Brown, Vice Mayor Wu, Council Member Worley, and Council Member Legree participated in the discussion.

A motion was made to place the zone change request on the docket without a public hearing. This motion resulted in a tie vote and therefore failed.

Following the failed motion, a subsequent motion to remove the item from the docket was made and passed.

The agenda item was deferred.

Approval of Summary

The council approved the October 29, 2024 Work Session Summary. Council Member Gray and Council Member Sheehan were the key speakers on this agenda item.

The summary was approved without noted objections or concerns raised during the discussion.

Budget Amendments

The Council considered budget amendments as agenda item IV during the meeting. Council Member Ellinger II and Council Member Plomin were the key speakers on this matter.

The budget amendments were approved without discussion. No concerns were raised, and no debate took place regarding the proposed amendments.

Outcome: The budget amendments were approved.

New Business

1:05:37

During the New Business section of the meeting, Council Member Ellinger and Council Member Baxter presented items for consideration. The agenda included procurement authorizations and employee benefits matters.

All new business items presented were approved by the council.

Communications From the Mayor – Appointments

1:05:37

The council considered communications from the mayor regarding appointments. Council Member Fogle and Council Member Plomin were the key speakers during this agenda item.

The item was presented as a communication from the mayor, and the council voted to approve the appointments as presented.

The outcome of this agenda item was approval.

Communications From the Mayor – Donations

1:05:37

The council considered donation recommendations from the mayor during this agenda item. Council Member Gray and Council Member Sevigny were the key speakers on this matter.

The council approved the mayor's donation recommendations. No specific details regarding the nature, amount, or recipients of the donations were provided in the available meeting materials.

Communications From the Mayor – Procurements

No procurements were discussed during this agenda item.

Continuing Business/ Presentations

1:09:54

During this agenda item, the council approved Neighborhood Development Funds and Council Capital Projects while receiving reports on two significant initiatives.

Presentations and Reports

The council heard presentations on a downtown master plan and a LexArts equity review. These reports provided updates on ongoing community development and arts equity efforts.

Key Participants

Council Member Baxter, Council Member Sheehan, Council Member Reynolds, and Council Member James Brown participated in the discussion of these matters.

Outcome

The council approved the Neighborhood Development Funds and Council Capital Projects as presented.

Council Reports

During this informational segment, council members provided updates on various city initiatives and activities. 1:13:11

Speakers and Topics

The following council members shared reports:

• Council Member Reynolds
• Council Member Baxter
• Council Member Lynch
• Council Member Gurek
• Council Member Fogel
• Council Member Plum
• Council Member Savigny

Areas Covered

Council members discussed updates related to:

• Public art initiatives
• Community events
• City summit participation

Outcome

This segment was informational in nature, with council members sharing updates rather than taking formal action or making decisions.

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

1:31:11

Martin Rivers addressed the council during the public comment period for issues not on the agenda. He spoke on the topic of government transparency, emphasizing the importance of public access to budget sessions and the need for citizen input in future studies.

Rivers urged the council to ensure that budget sessions remain open and accessible to members of the public who wish to observe and participate in the budgeting process. He also advocated for the inclusion of citizen perspectives in any upcoming studies or initiatives the government undertakes.

This item was informational in nature, with no formal action or decision required.

Adjournment

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was presented by Council Member Sevigny and Council Member Reynolds 1:33:39. The motion passed without dissent, bringing the proceedings to a close.