Social Services and Public Safety Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services and Public Safety Committee convened on April 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM, with J. Reynolds presiding. The meeting included four agenda items spanning administrative business and informational presentations on community safety and public health topics. The committee approved the February 25, 2025 Committee Summary and received three informational presentations covering the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition, a review of services and resources from the Fayette County Sheriff, and an overview of Recovery Residences (Sober Living Homes). Over the course of the meeting, 3 votes were taken, 3 public comments were heard, and 3 informational presentations were delivered to the committee.

Attendance

The following members and staff were recorded at the Committee meeting held on April 15, 2025.

Present (12): - W. Baxter - D. Wu - C. Ellinger - T. Morton - S. Lynch - D. Gray - J. Hale - A. Beasley - H. Boone - Emma Curtis - Liz Sheehan - Dave Sevigny

Absent (1): - J. Reynolds

Late: None recorded.

A total of 12 individuals were present for the meeting. J. Reynolds was the only member noted as absent. No members or staff were recorded as arriving late.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took three votes during the April 15, 2025 meeting, all of which passed unanimously. No roll call votes were recorded, and no transcript timestamps are available for these items.

• Approval of the January 28, 2025 Committee Meeting Summary: Motioned by D. Wu and seconded by C. Ellinger, the committee voted unanimously to approve the summary of the previous committee meeting held on January 28, 2025.

• Ordinance Amending Sections of Chapter 12 Related to Nuisances and Penalties: Motioned by D. Gray and seconded by S. Lynch, the committee voted unanimously to advance an ordinance amending sections of Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to nuisances and associated penalties.

• Ordinance Creating Sections of the Code of Ordinances Related to the Landlord-Tenant Act: Motioned by D. Gray and seconded by T. Morton, the committee voted unanimously to advance an ordinance creating new sections of the Code of Ordinances related to the Landlord-Tenant Act.

All three items passed without opposition or abstention. No individual roll call vote tallies were recorded for any of the motions.

Public Comment

Three council members offered comments and questions following the Sheriff's office presentation at the April 15, 2025 committee meeting.

• Council Member Sheehan 22:32 thanked Sheriff Witt for the presentation and raised questions about the Sheriff's emergency cell phone program, which provides used phones to individuals that are capable of dialing 911. Sheehan's inquiry highlighted interest in the program's scope and operation as a public safety resource.

• Council Member Curtis 24:46 also expressed gratitude toward the Sheriff's office and sought confirmation that domestic violence services are available to all people regardless of gender, race, or identity. Curtis's comments underscored the importance of inclusive access to the services provided through the Sheriff's office.

• Council Member Beasley 27:28 raised two distinct questions: one regarding the monitoring of Ring cameras, and another concerning the process for filing an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) on behalf of another person. Beasley's questions touched on both surveillance tools available to the department and the procedural pathways available to community members seeking legal protections for others.

All three comments were directed at the Sheriff's office presentation and focused broadly on public safety programs, victim services, and protective legal mechanisms available to residents.

Contested Items

Recovery Residences Ordinance

The committee engaged in a heated discussion regarding a proposed ordinance governing recovery residences. The debate centered on several competing concerns, including how the ordinance would be enforced, how it would protect residents living in recovery residences, and how to strike an appropriate balance between community safety interests and the rights of individuals in recovery.

No specific vote outcome, named participants, or resolution details are available in the provided data for this item.

Approval of February 25, 2025 Committee Summary

The committee took up the approval of the summary from its February 25, 2025 meeting as the first item of business. J. Reynolds was the key speaker on this agenda item. No concerns or substantive debate were noted regarding the contents of the summary. The committee approved the February 25, 2025 meeting summary.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition

1:31:50

Stephanie Theakston presented to the Committee on the work of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition. The presentation covered the coalition's ongoing efforts in the areas of outreach, advocacy, and best practices related to preventing domestic and sexual violence.

The item was informational in nature, and no vote or formal action was taken by the Committee as a result of the presentation.

*Note: Additional details regarding specific programs, statistics, concerns raised, or Committee discussion are not available in the source data for this agenda item.*

Fayette County Sheriff: Review of Services/Resources

22:32

Sheriff Witt appeared before the Committee to provide an overview of the services and resources offered by the Fayette County Sheriff's office. The presentation was informational in nature, giving Committee members an opportunity to learn about the office's current programs and capabilities.

Among the topics covered was the Sheriff's office emergency cell phone program, which was highlighted as one of the resources available through the department. No further details, concerns, or debate were recorded in the available data for this agenda item.

The item concluded as an informational presentation with no formal action taken by the Committee.

Recovery Residences (Sober Living Homes)

29:34

Michael Cravens presented a draft ordinance on recovery residences, also known as sober living homes, during this discussion item. The presentation covered three primary areas: recent changes to state law, legal guideposts that inform how the ordinance must be structured, and the specific regulations being proposed in the draft.

The item was informational in nature, meaning no vote or formal action was taken by the Committee at this meeting. The discussion served to introduce and review the draft ordinance language in light of the evolving legal and regulatory landscape governing recovery residences.

No additional speaker details, specific ordinance provisions, concerns raised, or outcomes beyond the informational presentation are available from the meeting record.