Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on February 4, 2025, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber on the 2nd Floor of the Government Center, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting covered 11 agenda items spanning a range of legislative and administrative business, including rezonings, budget amendments, mayoral appointments, donations, and procurements. Across the session, the Council took 10 votes, the majority of which resulted in approvals, reflecting an active and productive legislative agenda. One public comment period was held for issues on the agenda, and additional opportunity for public input was provided at the close of the meeting for issues not on the agenda. Informational items included continuing business and presentations, as well as council reports.

Attendance

All 15 council members were present at the February 4, 2025 meeting. No members were absent or late.

Present: Wu, J. Brown, Ellinger II, Morton, Lynch, LeGris, Curtis, Sheehan, Gray, Hale, Beasley, Baxter, Sevigny, Reynolds, and Boone.

Votes and Decisions

All votes at the February 4, 2025 Council meeting were taken by voice vote and passed. No roll call votes were recorded. The following motions were approved:

• Approval of the docket — Moved by Curtis; passed by voice vote. 2:35

• Approval of the January 28th Council Work Session motion table — Moved by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Council Member Legree; passed by voice vote. 3:38

• Approval of budget amendments — Moved by Council Member Gray, seconded by Council Member Savigny; passed by voice vote. 4:09

• Approval of new business — Moved by Council Member Savigny, seconded by Vice Mayor Wu; passed by voice vote. 7:24

• Approval of appointments — Moved by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Council Member Savigny; passed by voice vote. 11:07

• Approval of donations — Moved by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Council Member Curtis; passed by voice vote. 11:07

• Approval of procurements — Moved by Council Member Gray, seconded by Council Member Savigny; passed by voice vote. 11:38

• Approval of council capital projects — Moved by Council Member Ellinger, seconded by Council Member Gray; passed by voice vote. 12:09

• Referral of anti-displacement and vulnerable neighborhood preservation to the General Government Planning Committee — Moved by Council Member Morton, seconded by Council Member Gray; passed by voice vote. 24:06

• Motion to adjourn — Moved by Savigny, seconded by Curtis; passed by voice vote. 33:54

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved a range of financial actions at the February 4, 2025 meeting, spanning purchases, contracts, grants, leases, and amendments.

Purchases and Contracts - L0075-25: Authorized a $124,432 hardware purchase from RouteWare INC. in support of the Waste Management Routing Project. - L0097-25: Authorized a $5,800 catering contract with Hyatt Regency Lexington for the annual Senior Intern Alumni Luncheon. - L0122-25: Authorized a $31,217.68 contract with Mann Solar to install a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system.

Grants and Awards - L0105-25: Authorized submission of a $147,451 grant application to the Bluegrass Area Development District for operation of the Lexington Senior Center. - L0120-25: Authorized execution of an agreement to accept an $82,449.95 award from the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs. - L0121-25: Authorized a $576,000 agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the Brighton Trail Connection Project.

Leases and Agreements - L0115-25: Authorized a 36-month lease for two wide-format scanner-plotters from Lynn Imaging at $7,320.00 annually. - L0118-25: Authorized execution of a Memorandum of Understanding for the replacement of a deteriorating retaining wall at a cost of $220,000.

Amendments - L0112-25: Authorized Amendment One to an existing agreement with Independence Place, Inc. - L0117-25: Authorized an amendment to Resolution #22-2025 relating to the Lex Grow Trees Grant Program. - L0119-25: Authorized Amendment One to a purchase of service agreement with W-T Group, LLC, valued at $394,922. - L0123-25: Authorized an amendment to the classified civil service authorized strength by creating one new position of Accreditation Manager.

Legal - L0108-25: Authorized participation in the settlement of a lawsuit brought by the Kentucky Attorney General against Kroger Company related to opioids. No settlement amount was specified in the authorization.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the Council during the public comment period. 30:41

• Taniqua Oliver spoke on the topic of quality of life activism, raising concerns about what she described as the trauma to prison pipeline. Oliver emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent children from entering the criminal justice system, calling attention to the importance of early intervention and community-level action to address the root causes that can lead young people toward involvement with the justice system.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

2:35

No public comments were made on issues on the agenda.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

2:35

The Council took up the matter of requested rezonings and docket approval. Curtis presented the item to the Council. No debate or dissenting concerns were raised during discussion of this agenda item. The Council approved the docket without any dissent.

Approval of Summary

3:38

The Council took up the approval of the summary from the January 28th Council Work Session. The Vice Mayor and Council Member Legree were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting. The summary was approved without noted objection.

Budget Amendments

4:09

The Council took up several budget amendments during this portion of the meeting. The amendments addressed traffic improvements and bond funds, though specific dollar amounts and project details were not detailed in the available record.

Council Member Reynolds and Council Member Ellinger were the key speakers on this item. The available record does not specify the individual arguments made or concerns raised by each member during the discussion.

The Council approved the budget amendments.

New Business

7:24

The Council took up several New Business items during this portion of the meeting, covering agreements and authorizations for various projects. Council Member Savigny and Vice Mayor Wu were among the key speakers during this segment.

The Council considered and acted on a series of items, which included approving agreements and providing authorizations related to ongoing and new projects. No specific concerns or notable debate are reflected in the available record for this agenda item.

All New Business items were approved by the Council.

Communications From the Mayor – Appointments

11:07

The Council considered appointments recommended by the Mayor during this agenda item. The Vice Mayor and Council Member Savigny were noted as key speakers during the discussion.

The Council approved the Mayor's recommended appointments. No additional details regarding the specific positions, appointees, or deliberation points are available from the meeting record.

Communications From the Mayor – Donations

11:07

The Council took up the agenda item covering donations as recommended by the Mayor. The item was presented for Council consideration and approval.

Key speakers during this portion of the meeting included the Vice Mayor and Council Member Curtis. The Council moved to approve the donations as recommended, and the item passed.

No additional details regarding the specific donations, their amounts, recipients, or any debate or concerns raised were included in the available record for this item.

Communications From the Mayor – Procurements

11:38

The Council took up the Mayor's procurement recommendations during this portion of the meeting. Council Member Gray and Council Member Savigny were the key speakers on this item.

The Council approved the procurement recommendations as presented by the Mayor. No additional details regarding the specific contracts, vendors, amounts, or scope of the procurements are available in the provided record.

The item was approved by the Council.

Continuing Business/Presentations

12:09

The Council received updates on ongoing projects and initiatives during this portion of the February 4, 2025 meeting. Council Member Ellinger and Council Member Gray were the key speakers during this segment.

The discussion covered continuing business items and presentations related to various Council initiatives, with the session noted as informational in nature. No votes or formal actions were taken as a result of this agenda item.

*Note: The available data for this agenda item is limited. For full details on the specific projects, updates, or concerns discussed, viewers are encouraged to consult the meeting video beginning at timestamp 12:09 or review the official meeting minutes.*

Council Reports

14:50

Council members provided updates on various community projects and initiatives during this portion of the meeting. The primary speakers were Council Member Baxter and Council Member Legree.

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no vote or formal action taken as a result of the reports presented.

*Note: The available data for this agenda item is limited. For full details on the specific updates, projects, and initiatives discussed by Council Member Baxter and Council Member Legree, viewers are encouraged to consult the meeting video beginning at timestamp 14:50 or review the official meeting minutes.*

Public Comment - Issues Not on Agenda

30:41

During the public comment period for issues not on the agenda, one member of the public addressed the Council.

• Taniqua Oliver appeared before the Council to speak on the topic of quality of life activism.

This portion of the meeting was informational in nature, providing an opportunity for a community member to bring forward concerns or perspectives outside of the items formally listed on the agenda. No Council action was taken in response to the public comment.