WorkSession03-11-25

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington Fayette Urban County Council met on March 11, 2025, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting covered six agenda items spanning public safety, environmental policy, and youth services. Topics included a Memorandum of Understanding with the FBI, a NIBIN Grant Request, a Stormwater Grant Cancellation, a report from the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee, and a Youth Services Presentation. The council heard 2 public comments during the meeting and took 2 votes over the course of the session. All six agenda items were informational in nature, reflecting a meeting focused on updates, presentations, and committee reports rather than final legislative action.

Attendance

The following 12 council members were present at the March 18, 2025 meeting:

• Council Member Baxter
• Council Member Ellinger
• Vice Mayor Wu
• Council Member Morton
• Council Member Savigny
• Council Member Legree
• Council Member Lynch
• Council Member Hale
• Council Member Curtis
• Council Member Beasley
• Council Member Reynolds
• Council Member Brown

No members were recorded as absent or late. The body achieved full attendance for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

Two motions were brought to a vote during the March 18, 2025 meeting, both passing by voice vote.

• Approval of the March 4th Work Session Table of Motions 8:00: Council Member Baxter moved to approve the March 4th work session table of motions, seconded by Council Member Ellinger. The motion passed by voice vote. As a voice vote, no individual roll call tallies were recorded.

• Approval of New Business Items 9:02: Vice Mayor Wu moved to approve new business items, seconded by Council Member Baxter. The motion passed by voice vote. As a voice vote, no individual roll call tallies were recorded.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included one financial item related to a grant request.

• A request was presented for $700,000 to support the continuation of a NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) program. No vendor, recipient organization, resolution number, or additional identifying information was provided in the available meeting data.

No other budget or financial actions were recorded for this meeting.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the council during the public comment period at the March 18, 2025 meeting.

• Rick Day spoke at 47:46 about concerns with the current employee compensation system. Day was critical of the existing structure, specifically referencing the 2014 and 2022 MAG studies. He suggested that the compensation system is failing employees and called attention to what he characterized as ongoing, unresolved issues stemming from those studies.

• Amy Clark spoke at 50:44 to urge the council to take a position opposing Senate Bill 89. Clark argued that the legislation would weaken protections for Kentucky's water resources and called on the council to oppose the bill.

Public Comment

8:00

No public comments were submitted or made regarding items on the agenda during this portion of the meeting.

Memorandum of Understanding with the FBI

9:02

The meeting included a discussion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the FBI related to the Louisville Street Task Force. The item was presented as informational, with the discussion centering on policy guidance and cooperation between local law enforcement and the FBI in efforts to solve violent crimes.

Key speakers on this agenda item were Commissioner Armstrong and Council Member Morton. The discussion focused on the framework the MOU would establish for collaboration between the Louisville Street Task Force and the FBI, particularly as it pertains to addressing violent crime.

No vote or formal action was taken on this item, as it was brought forward for informational and discussion purposes only.

NIBIN Grant Request

10:06

The council discussed a $700,000 grant request for the continuation of the NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) program, which is used to help track suspects and crime scenes.

Key Speakers: Commissioner Armstrong, Council Member Morton

Discussion Overview:

• The item was presented as a request for grant funding totaling $700,000 to support the ongoing operation of the NIBIN program.
• The NIBIN program serves as a tool for law enforcement to track suspects and link crime scenes, supporting investigative efforts.
• Commissioner Armstrong and Council Member Morton were the primary participants in the discussion.

Outcome:

This item was informational in nature. No vote or formal action was taken as a result of the discussion.

Stormwater Grant Cancellation

11:45

The council took up Item B, a discussion regarding the cancellation of a stormwater grant. This item was informational in nature, with no formal action required.

Key Speakers: Charlie Martin, Council Member Savigny

The discussion centered on the circumstances that led to the cancellation of a stormwater grant. According to the presentation, the grant was cancelled due to increased project costs that the grantee was unable to absorb. The rising costs rendered the project financially unworkable for the grant recipient, ultimately resulting in the cancellation.

Charlie Martin and Council Member Savigny were the primary participants in the discussion. The item was presented as an informational update to keep the council apprised of the grant's status and the factors that contributed to its cancellation.

No formal vote or action was taken on this item, as it was brought before the council for informational purposes only.

Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee Report

14:24

Council Member Legree presented the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee Report, summarizing the proceedings from the committee's February 11, 2025 meeting.

The report covered two primary topics discussed at that meeting:

• Neighborhood Traffic Management Program — This program was among the items reviewed by the committee during the February 11 session.
• Odor Control Program — The committee also addressed this program as part of its February 11 agenda.

The presentation was informational in nature, with Council Member Legree delivering the report to the full council. No vote or formal action was taken as a result of this agenda item.

Youth Services Presentation

16:36

Brianna Pursley, Marjorie Guyon, and Roberta Davis presented on Youth Services' new delinquency prevention initiative, which includes a program called the I Was Here Project. The initiative uses art as a tool to promote self-awareness among youth participants.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing the body with an overview of the new program's approach and goals. The I Was Here Project represents a creative intervention strategy within the broader delinquency prevention framework being advanced by Youth Services.

No action was taken as a result of the presentation.