Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee met on March 3, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the Phoenix Building – 3rd Floor Conference Room, with Amy Sohner presiding. The meeting included 7 agenda items covering a range of administrative, educational, and organizational matters. The committee took 1 vote during the session, approving the minutes from the December 2, 2022 meeting and filling an expired or vacant Watershed At-Large seat for the Boone Creek watershed. No public comments were heard. The remainder of the meeting featured informational presentations and discussions on topics including the fate and transport of emerging contaminants, infill and development practices, and LFUCG Stormwater Management Regulations, as well as time set aside for potential topics for the next meeting and general announcements.

Attendance

The following 38 members and staff were present at the March 3, 2023 Committee meeting:

Eileen Burk, Doug Burton, Jennifer Carey, Jim Conner, Jerry Davis, Steve Evans, Jim Griggs, Amanda Gumbert, Don Hill, Charlie Martin, Tom Martin, Richard McClure, Amy Sohner, Scott Southall, Clay Turner, Russ Turpin, Jerry Weisenfluh, Denice Bullock, Jeffinisha Cobb, Sarah Donaldson, Emily Epperson, Brooke Gray, Gabe Hensley, Becky Irwin, Jennifer Myatt, Greg Lubeck, Frank Mabson, Lindsie Nicholas, Angelo Poe, Mark Sanders, Chris Taylor, Abby Terry, Richard Walker, Ben Currens, Sam Lee, Tiffany Messer, Wes Morris, and Steve Vogel.

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The following motion was brought before the Committee during the March 3, 2023 meeting:

• Approval of December 2, 2022 Minutes 0:00: A motion to approve the minutes from the December 2, 2022 meeting was made by Tom Martin and seconded by Eileen Burk. The motion passed unanimously. No roll call vote was recorded, so individual member votes are not available.

Appointments

The committee took action on the following appointment during the March 3, 2023 meeting:

• Jim Griggs was reappointed to the Boone Creek Watershed At-Large position.

Contested Items

• Boone Creek Watershed At-Large Seat: The committee faced a contested decision over the Boone Creek Watershed At-Large seat, with two candidates — Jim Griggs and Burgess Carey — both seeking the position. A vote was held to determine which candidate would serve as the representative for this seat. The available data indicates the matter was resolved by a split vote, though the specific vote tally and final outcome are not detailed in the provided information.

Approval of 12/2/2022 Minutes

0:00

The Committee opened its March 3, 2023 meeting with a review of the minutes from the December 2, 2022 meeting. Amy Sohner led this portion of the agenda, inviting members to raise any additions or corrections to the prior meeting's record.

No corrections or additions were offered, and the minutes were approved as presented.

Fate and Transport of Emerging Contaminants

0:31

Dr. Tiffany Messer delivered a presentation on the fate and transport of emerging contaminants, with a focus on two categories of concern: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and neonicotinoids. The study examined these contaminants in the context of wastewater treatment plants in Central Kentucky.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing the committee with research findings related to how these emerging contaminants move through and are processed — or not processed — by wastewater treatment infrastructure. PFAS and neonicotinoids represent a growing area of concern in water quality research, and the Central Kentucky wastewater treatment plants served as the geographic focus of Dr. Messer's work.

No formal action or vote was taken as a result of this agenda item, as it was presented for the committee's information and awareness.

Infill and Development: The Area versus the Practice

25:33

Thomas Martin delivered a presentation on the history and current practices of infill and redevelopment in Lexington, covering the Urban Service Boundary and relevant zoning regulations.

The presentation was informational in nature, providing the Committee with background and context on how infill development has functioned in Lexington over time. Key topics included:

• The history of infill and redevelopment practices in the area
• The role and function of the Urban Service Boundary in shaping development patterns
• Current zoning regulations as they relate to infill activity

No outcome or policy decision resulted from this agenda item, as it was presented for the Committee's information and awareness.

*Note: Additional detail on specific points raised, concerns discussed, or questions from Committee members is not available in the provided source material.*

LFUCG Stormwater Management Regulations

1:06:32

Richard Walker presented an overview of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) stormwater management regulations, with a focus on how those regulations apply to redevelopment projects, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and residential additions.

Walker's presentation centered on two key thresholds that determine stormwater management requirements:

• The 20% rule: Projects that disturb or alter 20% or more of an existing impervious surface trigger stormwater management requirements.
• The one-acre rule: Projects that disturb one acre or more of land are subject to stormwater management regulations.

The presentation was informational in nature, aimed at helping committee members understand how these regulatory thresholds interact with common development scenarios, particularly smaller-scale projects such as ADUs and residential additions that may be affected by stormwater rules depending on the scope of site disturbance involved.

No formal action was taken as a result of this agenda item, and the outcome was recorded as informational.

Expired/Vacant Watershed At-Large Seats – Boone Creek

1:38:32

The committee took up Agenda Item 5, addressing the expired or vacant Watershed At-Large seat for the Boone Creek watershed. Amy Sohner presented the item to the committee.

Following the presentation, the committee voted to reappoint Jim Griggs as the Boone Creek Watershed At-Large representative. The appointment was approved.

Potential Topics for Next Meeting

1:41:52

The committee concluded its meeting with a brief discussion of potential topics to be taken up at a future meeting. Lindsie Nicholas led this portion of the agenda, which was informational in nature.

Two primary areas were identified as candidates for future discussion:

• Monitoring program results — The committee indicated interest in reviewing outcomes and data from ongoing monitoring efforts.
• Updates on watershed management plans — Progress and developments related to watershed management planning were also flagged as a topic warranting future attention.

No formal decisions were made during this segment, and the discussion was treated as preliminary and informational. The outcome of this agenda item was to identify these subjects as potential items for placement on a forthcoming meeting agenda.

Announcements

1:45:51

Jennifer Carey presented several announcements regarding upcoming events and initiatives. The announcements covered two notable items: Water Week and the Reforest the Bluegrass initiative.

This agenda item was informational in nature, and no decisions or votes were required from the committee.